CVE-2020-3121 in Small Business Smart Switch
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business Smart and Managed Switches could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of the affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a malicious link and access a specific page. 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 • 03/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3121 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Cisco Small Business Smart and Managed Switches, specifically within their web-based management interface. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Cisco switching equipment including the Cisco Small Business Smart and Managed Switches, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these devices in enterprise environments. The flaw exists in the web interface components that handle user interactions, where insufficient sanitization allows malicious input to persist and execute within the browser context of authenticated users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious link that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, triggers the XSS payload within the vulnerable web interface. This attack vector leverages the principle of social engineering combined with web application security weaknesses, where the attacker does not need authentication credentials to initiate the exploit. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack operates through the web interface's failure to properly escape or validate user inputs, allowing malicious scripts to be executed in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive network management functions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to browser-based information, manipulate the web interface to perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where these switches are directly exposed to untrusted networks or where users may be tricked into clicking malicious links through phishing campaigns or other social engineering techniques.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can leverage XSS vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 for Phishing and T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol, as it requires user interaction through malicious links and operates at the application layer of network communication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate these switches from untrusted networks, deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and regular security assessments of web interfaces. Additionally, Cisco has released patches and firmware updates to address this vulnerability, which should be applied immediately to all affected devices. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations.