CVE-2019-12631 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Identity Services Engine Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2019-12631

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) has a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to perform a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack without authentication.

What is CVE-2019-12631?

The web-based guest portal of Cisco ISE is susceptible to a cross-site scripting (XSS) weakness due to inadequate user input validation. This flaw could be exploited by tricking a user into clicking a malicious link, enabling the attacker to execute arbitrary script code.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12631

If successfully exploited, an unauthorized attacker could execute malicious scripts within the interface, potentially accessing sensitive user information stored in the browser.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12631

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Cisco ISE's web-based guest portal allows for a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, leveraging insufficient validation of user input.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions: Unspecified

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Changed
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement security best practices for web applications
Regularly monitor and update the Cisco ISE software

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing
Educate users on identifying and avoiding phishing attempts

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the XSS vulnerability