CVE-2019-1671 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of the affected system. 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 affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1671 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Firepower Management Center's web-based administrative interface. This security weakness exists in the FMC platform that serves as the central management solution for Cisco's next-generation firewalls and intrusion prevention systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to compromise the management environment. Organizations relying on FMC for network security operations face significant risk as this flaw could potentially enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data and operational controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a classic XSS attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious links designed to target unsuspecting users who are authenticated to the FMC interface. The insufficient input validation allows malicious payloads to be injected into the web interface, which then executes within the context of the victim's browser session. This particular vulnerability is classified as a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting attack, which falls under the broader category of injection flaws that represent one of the most prevalent security concerns in web applications. The attack requires social engineering to convince users to click on malicious links, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages human factors alongside technical weaknesses in the application's defenses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the web interface. This capability could allow adversaries to escalate their privileges, access confidential network security policies, view sensitive configuration data, and potentially manipulate firewall rules or intrusion prevention settings. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the attack means that threat actors could exploit this vulnerability without requiring valid credentials, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on FMC for critical network security operations. The attack could result in unauthorized access to the management interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the underlying network security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Cisco's security patches and updates as released through their official advisory channels, which typically address the input validation deficiencies by implementing proper sanitization of user-supplied data. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit access to the FMC interface, and administrators should consider implementing additional access controls such as multi-factor authentication and privileged access management solutions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on script-based attacks within web environments, and represents a critical threat that organizations should prioritize for remediation according to their vulnerability management processes and security frameworks.