CVE-2019-1802 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) could allow an authenticated, 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 in the web-based management interface of the affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to access a report containing malicious content. 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. Versions 6.2.3, 6.3.0, and 6.4.0 are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1802 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center versions 6.2.3, 6.3.0, and 6.4.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the affected system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the web interface. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes reports containing malicious content, creating an attack vector that requires minimal user interaction to exploit successfully. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack where malicious scripts are executed in the victim's browser, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting execution through web interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with valid credentials to craft malicious reports that, when accessed by a victim user, execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser session. This occurs because the web interface does not adequately validate or escape user input before rendering it in the browser context, creating a persistent XSS condition. The exploitation process typically involves the attacker creating a specially crafted report that includes malicious JavaScript payloads, which then executes when the victim navigates to the report page. The attacker can leverage this capability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as it can lead to full session hijacking and privilege escalation within the management interface.
The operational implications of CVE-2019-1802 are significant for organizations relying on Cisco Firepower Management Center for network security operations, as the vulnerability can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the management interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data, monitor administrative activities, and potentially escalate privileges within the security infrastructure. The attack requires only authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the management interface and can lead to complete compromise of the network security posture. Organizations using affected versions must consider the potential for lateral movement within their network infrastructure if attackers can maintain persistent access through this vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1802 should include immediate patching of affected Cisco Firepower Management Center versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary input validation fixes. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of report creation and access activities within the FMC interface to detect anomalous behavior. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional protection layers against malicious payloads. Regular security assessments of the management interface should include input validation testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the FMC interface and enforce strict access controls. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, principles that align with OWASP Top 10 recommendations for preventing XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security awareness training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might be used to deliver malicious reports to unsuspecting users.