CVE-2024-20403 in Firepower Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by inserting crafted input into various data fields in an affected interface. 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 • 03/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20403 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Firepower Management Center software that affects the web-based management interface. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the web application. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication context of the management interface, requiring an authenticated attacker to exploit the flaw, yet the remote execution capability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access can be compromised. The affected system operates under the assumption that legitimate users will provide trusted input, creating a vector where malicious payloads can be injected into data fields that are subsequently rendered back to users within the web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a standard XSS attack pattern where an authenticated attacker crafts malicious input containing script code that gets executed in the victim's browser context. The insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject HTML or JavaScript payloads into various data fields within the management interface, which are then rendered without proper sanitization. This creates an environment where the attacker's malicious code executes with the privileges of the authenticated user, potentially enabling full compromise of the management interface session. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and access to sensitive browser-based information that may include session tokens or other authentication data. The attack surface is broad given that the management interface handles numerous data entry points, each representing a potential injection vector for the malicious payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco Firepower Management Center for network security operations. Once exploited, the XSS attack could allow attackers to escalate privileges within the management interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the security infrastructure. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first gain valid credentials, but this is often achievable through other means such as credential stuffing, phishing attacks, or compromised accounts. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target the management interface from external networks without requiring physical access or direct network penetration. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of network security operations, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate security policies, view sensitive configuration data, or even redirect traffic through compromised management sessions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address the input validation deficiencies in the web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface of management interfaces, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the web-based management center. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, enabling strict content security policies to prevent script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of the management interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious input patterns in management interface logs and implementation of user behavior analytics to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for administrators is essential to prevent credential compromise through phishing or other social engineering attacks that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.