CVE-2023-20060 in Prime Collaboration Deployment
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Collaboration Deployment could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting attack against a user of the interface.
This 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 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 affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information. Cisco plans to release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2025
This vulnerability resides within Cisco Prime Collaboration Deployment's web-based management interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's user authentication and input validation mechanisms. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the web application's input processing pipeline, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute unauthorized code within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a cross-site scripting weakness that operates without requiring any authentication credentials from the attacker, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative interfaces are accessible to network users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious link containing malicious script code designed to exploit the input validation gap. When a legitimate user with access to the web interface clicks this crafted link, the malicious script executes within the user's browser session, potentially compromising the entire interface session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector operates through the web interface's failure to properly encode or sanitize input parameters before rendering them in the user's browser context, allowing attacker-controlled data to be interpreted as executable code rather than mere data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially escalate privileges within the affected interface. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or manipulate the interface to perform unauthorized administrative actions. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed management interfaces. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers Scripting through web shells and malicious script execution within browser environments. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who can conduct reconnaissance and initial compromise without additional credential requirements.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of unauthorized access to their collaboration deployment management systems, potentially leading to complete compromise of the deployment infrastructure. The absence of workarounds means that organizations must rely entirely on official software updates from Cisco to remediate the vulnerability. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. Security teams should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement network segmentation to limit exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly simple input validation failures can create complex security implications within enterprise collaboration systems, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of web interfaces and regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other network management applications.