CVE-2001-0753 in CBOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco CBOS 2.3.8 and earlier stores the passwords for (1) exec and (2) enable in cleartext in the NVRAM and a configuration file, which could allow unauthorized users to obtain the passwords and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2019
Cisco CBOS versions 2.3.8 and earlier contain a critical security flaw that violates fundamental principles of credential storage and access control. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of administrative credentials where both exec and enable passwords are stored in cleartext format within non-volatile random access memory and configuration files. This represents a fundamental failure in security design that directly contravenes established best practices for password protection and privilege management. The cleartext storage of these credentials creates an immediate and severe attack surface that allows any unauthorized user with access to the device or configuration files to obtain administrative privileges without requiring additional authentication factors or complex exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper cryptographic protection mechanisms within the CBOS operating system. When administrators configure exec and enable passwords on affected Cisco devices, the system fails to encrypt or hash these credentials before storing them in persistent memory. This flaw operates at the system level rather than requiring network-based exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through local access or through compromised network management systems. The configuration files and NVRAM storage locations provide direct access points for attackers to extract these cleartext passwords, which then grant full administrative control over the device. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials) within the CWE classification system, representing a clear violation of security standards for credential handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks throughout network infrastructure. Once an attacker obtains these cleartext passwords, they can gain complete administrative control over affected devices, potentially enabling them to modify configurations, install malicious software, or redirect network traffic. The vulnerability affects the core privilege management system of Cisco routers and switches, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these devices serve as critical network infrastructure components. Network administrators who rely on traditional security models may be caught off guard by this vulnerability since it does not require sophisticated attack vectors or exploit chains. The flaw also impacts compliance with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, which mandate proper credential protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to Cisco CBOS versions 2.3.9 or later, which contain proper password encryption mechanisms and eliminate the cleartext storage issue. Organizations should also implement immediate access controls to limit physical and network access to affected devices, particularly in environments where unauthorized physical access is possible. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration files or NVRAM access patterns. Security policies must be updated to enforce proper password management practices including regular password rotation and the implementation of strong authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components and emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of system configurations to prevent similar issues from emerging in other network devices. The remediation process should include comprehensive credential replacement across all affected devices and implementation of additional security controls to prevent future occurrences of similar cleartext storage vulnerabilities.