CVE-2022-20674 in Common Services Platform Collector
Summary
by MITRE • 05/27/2022
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Common Services Platform Collector (CSPC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading a user of the interface 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-20674 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Cisco Common Services Platform Collector software that exposes the web-based management interface to unauthenticated remote exploitation. This flaw resides within the application's insufficient input validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the user's browser context. The vulnerability affects the CSPC software's web interface, which serves as the primary administrative portal for managing network services and monitoring infrastructure components. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious links that, when clicked by an authenticated user, execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser session. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution as the flaw potentially enables attackers to access sensitive browser-based information and compromise the integrity of the management interface. This vulnerability type falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, representing one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince users to click malicious links, making it particularly insidious as it bypasses traditional network-level security controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the web interface's inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters. When users interact with the CSPC management interface, the application fails to properly validate or escape input data before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The flaw essentially creates a trust boundary violation where legitimate user interactions become vectors for malicious code execution. The attack requires no authentication credentials to initiate the exploit, as the vulnerability exists at the interface level where unauthenticated users can potentially influence the application's behavior. The impact extends to both the confidentiality and integrity of the management interface, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to access session tokens, view sensitive configuration data, or manipulate interface functionality. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics, specifically the use of malicious links to compromise user sessions. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a URL containing malicious script payloads that, when accessed by a user with valid session credentials, executes within the context of the authenticated session.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-20674 poses significant risks to network infrastructure management and security operations. Organizations relying on CSPC for network monitoring and management face potential unauthorized access to critical infrastructure controls, as attackers could manipulate the management interface to alter configurations or extract sensitive data. The vulnerability undermines the trust model of the web-based interface, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access through session hijacking or credential theft. Network administrators who regularly interact with the CSPC interface become primary targets, as their sessions could be compromised to gain elevated privileges within the management environment. The attack's potential for privilege escalation makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where CSPC interfaces may have extensive access to network monitoring and control functions. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their incident response capabilities, as compromised management interfaces could hinder detection and response efforts. Organizations using CSPC software face increased risk of operational disruption and potential data breaches, especially in environments where the interface provides access to critical network monitoring and control functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address the input validation deficiencies in the CSPC web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be strengthened at the application level to prevent malicious script injection, implementing proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the network infrastructure. Monitoring for suspicious user activity and anomalous access patterns in the CSPC interface should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security awareness training for network administrators should emphasize the dangers of clicking unknown links and the importance of verifying the legitimacy of web resources before accessing management interfaces. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web interface functionality and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Regular vulnerability scanning and security posture assessments should include evaluation of web application security controls to prevent similar issues from emerging in other network management systems.