A series of vulnerabilities have been identified in the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software. These vulnerabilities, collectively tracked under the identifier CVE-2022-20843, could enable an authenticated, remote attacker to perform stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against users of an affected device's interface. The root cause of these vulnerabilities lies in the insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface.

[Original References]
- Cisco Security Advisory: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-fmc-xs-xABsxCd5
- NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-20843

Exploit Details

An attacker can leverage these vulnerabilities by injecting crafted input into various data fields in the affected interface. If successful, the exploit could enable the attacker to execute arbitrary script code within the context of the interface or access sensitive browser-based information. In some instances, the attack can also cause temporary availability impact to certain elements of the FMC Dashboard.

[code snippet]
Here is an example of how an attacker could insert malicious JavaScript code into a vulnerable input field:

The attacker inputs the following malicious JavaScript code into the field

<script>alert('XSS Vulnerability Exploited')</script>
3. The application stores the malicious input, allowing it to be executed later when a user accesses the affected interface.

Attack Scenario

Imagine a situation where an attacker has successfully exploited this vulnerability, and a user with administrator privileges accesses the affected interface. The malicious script code would execute, potentially enabling the attacker to manipulate the user's browser session, steal sensitive information, or perform other actions within the user's security context.

Mitigation and Recommendations

Cisco has released software updates to address these vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is highly recommended that users of affected devices update their FMC Software to the latest version.

Conclusion

The multiple vulnerabilities found in the Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software's web-based management interface (CVE-2022-20843) are a serious concern, as they expose users to potential stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. By updating the software, implementing security best practices, and raising user awareness, organizations can minimize their risk of exploitation and ensure a more secure networking environment.

Timeline

Published on: 11/15/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/18/2022 18:14:00 UTC