Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco ISE’s web management interface could run attacker-supplied script in a user’s browser if that user clicks a crafted link. The issue needs user interaction, but ISE is an identity and access-control platform, so compromise of an administrator’s browser session could expose sensitive web-based information or affect interface actions.
Executive priority
Treat as a scheduled security update with attention from identity infrastructure owners. It is not rated critical, but ISE’s role in network access control makes administrator browser exposure operationally important.
Technical view
CVE-2019-12644 is a CWE-79 reflected XSS issue in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software’s web-based management interface. The source attributes it to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. CVSS 3.0 is 6.1: network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, scope changed, low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running Cisco Identity Services Engine Software. The provided sources do not specify affected versions or CPEs, so teams must verify product and version status against Cisco’s advisory and their asset inventory.
Exploitation context
The source describes exploitation by persuading a user to click a crafted link. The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other cited evidence of active exploitation, so active exploitation should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
The key evidence is XSS in the ISE management UI with CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. Version and remediation specifics are not present in the supplied bundle, so avoid over-scoping beyond Cisco ISE Software.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco’s advisory for affected and fixed ISE releases.
- Apply Cisco-recommended updates or workarounds when confirmed applicable.
- Limit ISE management interface access to trusted administration paths.
- Warn ISE administrators about unsolicited links targeting management sessions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco ISE deployments and management interface locations.
- Compare installed ISE versions against Cisco advisory guidance.
- Confirm whether management access is exposed beyond intended administrators.
- Review web access logs for unusual management-interface request patterns.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-12644 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20190904 Cisco Identity Services Engine Cross-Site Scripting VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.