Cisco AsyncOS Software Flaw Let Remote Hackers Launch XSS Attack

Cisco AsyncOS Software, used by Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway (previously Cisco Email Security Appliance; ESA), and Cisco Secure Web Appliance (WSA), has multiple flaws in its web-based management interface.

The vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to launch cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface.

What is XSS Attack?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is an attack that lets hackers inject malicious javascript into the application or the website code.

When user input is not properly sanitized before being used in the generated output, a web page or web app becomes vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks.

Cisco AsyncOS Software Flaw

Cisco said that “the vulnerabilities are independent of one another, exploiting one of the vulnerabilities is unnecessary before attempting to exploit another. “

Also, “a software release that is vulnerable to one of the vulnerabilities may not be vulnerable to the others,” Cisco added.

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Products Affected

CVE-2023-20119: Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager – Reflected XSS

CVE-2023-20120: Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance – Stored XSS.

CVE-2023-20028: Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager and Cisco Secure Web Appliance – Stored XSS.

CVE-2023-20119: Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager

An unauthenticated, remote attacker could execute an XSS attack against a user of the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager due to a vulnerability.

Insufficient user input validation is the cause of this vulnerability. A user of a vulnerable interface could be tricked into clicking a forged link by an attacker.

A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

CVE-2023-20120: Cisco Secure Email, Web Manager & Web Appliance

This vulnerability could allow an authenticated remote attacker to conduct an XSS attack against a user of the interface.

It is also an insufficient user input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of an affected interface to click a crafted link.

If the exploit is effective, the attacker may be able to access private browser-based data or run arbitrary script code in the context of the exploited interface.

CVE-2023-20028: Cisco Secure Email, Web Manager, & Web Appliance

This vulnerability could also be able to allow an authenticated remote attacker to conduct an XSS attack against a user of the interface due to insufficient user input validation.

A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

Updates & Workarounds

Cisco said there are no workarounds available to address these vulnerabilities, and users are recommended to consider software updates. According to PSIRT, there is no active exploitation of the vulnerability recorded.

Patches Released

Cisco released patches to fix the vulnerability;