CVE-2020-26083 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2020
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative credentials to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface. The vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious code into specific pages of the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or access sensitive, browser-based information. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have valid administrative credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-26083 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Identity Services Engine's web-based management interface. This security weakness resides in the platform's insufficient input validation mechanisms, specifically affecting the administrative web console that organizations use to manage their identity and access control policies. The vulnerability impacts Cisco ISE versions prior to 2.4.1.12, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that rely on this platform for network access control and identity management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the web interface's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input across multiple pages of the management console. When an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges submits maliciously crafted input to specific interface fields, the system fails to validate or escape the content before rendering it in the browser context. This validation gap creates an environment where attacker-controlled script code can be injected and subsequently executed within the victim's browser session. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting through web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially escalate their privileges within the administrative interface. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The requirement for administrative credentials as a prerequisite means that this vulnerability is less likely to be exploited by casual attackers, but poses significant risk to organizations where privileged accounts are compromised or where insider threats exist. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ISE serves as a critical component in enterprise network security infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's security patches and updates, specifically targeting the 2.4.1.12 release or later versions that contain the necessary input validation fixes. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interface access should be implemented as additional defensive measures. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular security assessments of the ISE environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when administrative interfaces lack proper sanitization controls, particularly in security-critical infrastructure platforms.