CVE-2020-3587 in SD-WAN vManage
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2020
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user. The vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3587 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco SD-WAN vManage software, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the platform's user authentication and input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically manifests as a cross-site scripting weakness that affects the software's web interface, which is commonly used by network administrators to manage and configure software-defined wide area networks. The affected system operates within enterprise network infrastructures where centralized management of distributed network resources is essential, making the potential impact of such a vulnerability particularly severe given the privileged access typically granted to vManage interfaces.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input within the web-based management interface components of the Cisco SD-WAN vManage software. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation that allow malicious scripts to be injected into web applications. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-provided data before rendering it within the web interface, creating an environment where attacker-controlled input can be executed as client-side scripts. This improper input handling occurs in the context of the web application's user interface, where legitimate user interactions with the system could inadvertently trigger malicious code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3587 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with significant privileges within the targeted environment. An authenticated attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code in the context of the web interface, potentially gaining access to sensitive browser-based information that includes session cookies, user credentials, or other confidential data stored within the browser's memory. This type of attack can lead to complete compromise of the vManage interface, allowing unauthorized access to network configuration data, user management controls, and other critical administrative functions. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a legitimate user to click a malicious link, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through spearphishing, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may not be fully aware of the risks associated with clicking untrusted links.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3587 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security enhancements. Cisco has released software updates addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches to eliminate the root cause of the issue. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attack patterns, enhanced user education programs to reduce successful social engineering attempts, and regular security assessments of the web-based management interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input sanitization measures within the application code can provide additional defense-in-depth layers against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and privileged access management controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to the vManage interface, they cannot easily escalate privileges or access other critical systems within the network infrastructure.