CVE-2020-7258 in Network Security Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross site scripting vulnerability in McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) Prior to 9.1 update 6 Mar 2020 Update allows attackers to unspecified impact via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7258 represents a cross site scripting flaw within McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) software, specifically affecting versions prior to the 9.1 update 6 released in March 2020. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which is a critical security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications viewed by other users. The affected McAfee NSM platform serves as a network security management solution that provides centralized monitoring and control of network security devices, making it a prime target for cyber adversaries seeking to exploit administrative interfaces.
The technical nature of this vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious websites. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could occur through various entry points including but not limited to user input fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints within the NSM web interface. Given that NSM is designed for network security management, the attack surface includes administrative panels, reporting interfaces, and configuration tools that handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the network security infrastructure.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on McAfee NSM for their network security operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness to monitor administrator activities, steal session cookies, manipulate security policies, or even redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the NSM environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of network security management operations, potentially compromising the entire security posture of an organization. The attack could result in unauthorized access to critical network monitoring data, disruption of security operations, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations using NSM without the necessary patch would be particularly vulnerable during peak security monitoring periods when administrators are actively managing network threats.
Organizations should immediately implement the remediation measures provided by McAfee, specifically applying the 9.1 update 6 patch released in March 2020, which addresses this cross site scripting vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor network traffic for suspicious activities. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting administrative access to trusted IP ranges, and conducting regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following the principle of least privilege when configuring administrative access to security management systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both application-level vulnerabilities and user awareness training.