CVE-2020-3178 : Security Advisory and Response

Cisco Content Security Management Appliance Open Redirect Vulnerabilities

Understanding CVE-2020-3178

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based GUI of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) that could be exploited by an unauthenticated, remote attacker to redirect users to malicious web pages.

What is CVE-2020-3178?

The vulnerabilities stem from improper input validation of HTTP request parameters, enabling attackers to intercept and modify requests to redirect users to specific malicious URLs. This type of attack, known as an open redirect attack, is commonly used in phishing schemes to trick users into visiting harmful sites.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3178

If successfully exploited, attackers could redirect users to malicious websites or obtain sensitive browser-based information, potentially leading to further security breaches or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3178

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities in the web-based GUI of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) allow for unauthorized redirection of users to malicious websites due to inadequate input validation of HTTP request parameters.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA)
Vendor: Cisco
Affected Version: Not Applicable (n/a)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by intercepting and modifying HTTP requests to redirect users to specific malicious URLs, potentially leading to phishing attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3178 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerabilities promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate potential security risks.
Educate users about phishing attacks and the importance of verifying URLs before clicking on them.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all relevant security patches and updates from Cisco are applied to the affected systems to prevent exploitation of the vulnerabilities.