CVE-2019-1702 in Enterprise Chat
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Enterprise Chat and Email 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 vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of the affected software. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities either by injecting malicious code in a chat window or by sending a crafted link to a user of the interface. In both cases, the attacker must persuade the user to click the crafted link or open the chat window that contains the attacker's code. 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. Version 11.6(1) is affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-1702 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Enterprise Chat and Email's web-based management interface. This issue affects version 11.6(1) and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability creates a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to inject malicious code into the system, exploiting the insufficient filtering of web interface inputs. The flaw specifically targets the web-based management interface components that handle user interactions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers without requiring any prior authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary vectors: direct injection into chat windows or through crafted links sent to targeted users. When malicious code is injected into chat windows, it executes when other users view the conversation, while crafted links can trigger the XSS payload when clicked by victims. This dual exploitation method increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability more difficult to detect and prevent. The underlying cause of the vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly validate or escape user-provided input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The insufficient input validation creates a persistent security gap that allows attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of the web-based management interface, potentially allowing them to access sensitive browser-based information, steal session cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This could result in complete compromise of the management interface, enabling attackers to manipulate chat settings, access confidential communications, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or local system compromise, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such interfaces are publicly accessible.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web-based management interface. Organizations should immediately apply Cisco's official security patches and updates to address the identified XSS flaws. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the management interface to only trusted users and systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues in other components of the enterprise chat and email system. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and chat content should be implemented to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing techniques, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of attacks that can leverage such weaknesses. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar XSS vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.