CVE-2024-20251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information on CVE-2024-20251, including its impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2024-20251

CVE-2024-20251 is a vulnerability found in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE). This vulnerability could potentially allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface on an affected device.

What is CVE-2024-20251?

The vulnerability arises due to the lack of proper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface of Cisco ISE. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious code into specific pages of the interface, enabling them to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

The Impact of CVE-2024-20251

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 4.8 out of 10. Although the availability impact is assessed as none, the confidentiality and integrity impacts are considered low. In a successful exploitation scenario, an attacker can compromise the affected system and access sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-20251

This section covers vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism in detail.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to conduct stored cross-site scripting attacks on Cisco ISE's web-based management interface, leveraging improper input validation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Multiple versions of Cisco Identity Services Engine Software are affected by this vulnerability, including versions 2.6.0 to 3.3.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves injecting malicious code into specific pages of the web-based management interface, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary script code and access sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-20251, consider implementing the following strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Educate users on safe browsing practices to avoid falling victim to XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement a robust security awareness program within your organization.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all affected systems running Cisco Identity Services Engine Software are updated with the latest security patches provided by Cisco to mitigate the CVE-2024-20251 vulnerability.