CVE-2019-12712 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of the affected software. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input in multiple sections of the web-based management interface of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12712 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Prime Infrastructure's web-based management interface, posing significant security risks to organizations relying on this network management platform. This vulnerability exists in the web interface component of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, which serves as the central management console for network infrastructure monitoring and configuration. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data across multiple interface sections, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, a widely deployed solution for enterprise network management that provides centralized monitoring, configuration, and reporting capabilities for Cisco networking equipment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated social engineering attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious links designed to trigger XSS execution when clicked by an unsuspecting user. The insufficient validation occurs in multiple sections of the web interface, meaning that any user interaction with these vulnerable components could potentially be exploited. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary script execution within the context of the affected interface, which provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially escalate privileges. The attack requires minimal user interaction, as users must simply click on the maliciously crafted link, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators access the management interface. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially compromise the entire management interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to session cookies, which would allow them to impersonate legitimate users and maintain persistent access to the management interface. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the network infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote access capabilities. Organizations using Cisco Prime Infrastructure could face significant operational disruption, as attackers could manipulate network configurations, access sensitive monitoring data, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the management system. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects multiple interface sections, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the input validation flaws in the affected web interface components. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management interface to untrusted networks. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and input validation mechanisms at the application level can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious user activities and potential exploitation attempts within the management interface. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the credential access and execution domains, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that protect both network access and application integrity.