CVE-2025-20211 in BroadWorks
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2025
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20211 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability affects the platform's administrative web interface, which serves as the primary entry point for system configuration and management operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts into the web interface, potentially compromising the security posture of the entire application delivery platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The flaw manifests when the system fails to validate or escape user input that gets rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs or input parameters that, when clicked by an authenticated user, execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature makes it particularly dangerous as attackers do not require prior system access or credentials to initiate exploitation. The attack vector typically involves social engineering tactics where users are tricked into clicking malicious links that contain crafted script payloads designed to exploit the input validation gap.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal browser-based information, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, or even gain unauthorized access to backend services that the web interface communicates with. The affected platform's role as an application delivery platform means that successful exploitation could compromise the entire application delivery chain, potentially affecting multiple applications and services managed through the platform. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the administrative interface and could lead to complete system compromise if combined with other attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation enhancements, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent script execution. The platform should be updated with the latest security patches provided by Cisco as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user awareness training programs should be implemented to educate administrators about phishing and social engineering attacks that could leverage this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for social engineering techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both technical and human factors in the security posture.