Cisco Identity Services Engine CVE-2019-15281 HTML Injection Vulnerability

Description

Cisco Identity Services Engine is prone to an HTML-injection vulnerability because it fails to properly validate user-supplied input. Successful exploits will result in the execution of arbitrary attacker-supplied HTML and script code in the context of the affected application, potentially allowing the attacker to steal cookie-based authentication credentials or control how the page is rendered to the user. Other attacks are also possible. This issue is being tracked by Cisco Bug ID CSCvq52317.

Technologies Affected

• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.1
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.1.3
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.2
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.3
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.4
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.0.1
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.1.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.2.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.3.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.4

Recommendations

Block external access at the network boundary, unless external parties require service.
Block external access at the network boundary, unless external parties require service. Filter access to the affected computer at the network boundary if global access isn’t needed. Restricting access to only trusted computers and networks might greatly reduce the likelihood of a successful exploit.

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
Attackers may successfully exploit client flaws in the browser through cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. When possible, run client software as regular user accounts with limited access to system resources. This may limit the immediate consequences of client-side vulnerabilities.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity including unexplained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts or activity that results from successful exploits.

Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to websites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.

Set web browser security to disable the execution of script code or active content.
Since exploiting cross-site scripting issues often requires malicious script code to run in browsers, consider disabling script code and active content support within a client browser as a way to prevent a successful exploit. Note that this mitigation tactic might adversely affect legitimate sites that rely on the execution of browser-based script code.

Updates are available. Please see the references or vendor advisory for more information.