CVE-2018-15451 in Prime Service Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Service Catalog could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input that is processed by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a maliciously crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or access sensitive browser-based information.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15451 resides within Cisco Prime Service Catalog's web-based management interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user sessions and data protection mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the application's input validation controls, which are fundamental to preventing malicious code execution in web environments. The affected system operates as a service catalog management platform that enables administrators to provision and manage IT services through a centralized web interface, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise administrative privileges or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the web interface's processing pipeline. When the application receives data from users through various input fields or parameters, it fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This insufficient input validation creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw, which is categorized under CWE-79 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system, representing one of the most prevalent web application security weaknesses. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious URLs or input parameters that contain script code, which then gets executed when unsuspecting users navigate to affected pages or interact with compromised content.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-15451 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially escalate privileges within the administrative interface. An authenticated attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code within the user's browser context, enabling them to steal session cookies, modify interface content, or redirect users to malicious sites. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the web application, allowing attackers to operate under the guise of legitimate administrative users. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for use of cloud compute and storage, as attackers can manipulate the interface to perform unauthorized actions and access restricted resources. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the management interface, potentially enabling attackers to modify service catalog configurations, access restricted administrative functions, or exfiltrate sensitive service provisioning data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the web application's codebase. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes strict sanitization before being processed or displayed within the interface, utilizing established encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding, JavaScript escaping, and proper context-aware output filtering. The remediation approach should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP's Secure Coding Practices and the CWE guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this specific vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize applying these security updates to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should also be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security awareness training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability.