CVE-2001-1262 in Argent Office
Summary
by MITRE
Avaya Argent Office 2.1 compares a user-provided SNMP community string with the correct string only up to the length of the user-provided string, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication with a 0 length community string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1262 affects Avaya Argent Office 2.1, a communication management system that relies on SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for network monitoring and management functions. This authentication flaw stems from a critical design weakness in how the system handles community string validation, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the SNMP community string comparison mechanism, which serves as a fundamental authentication method for network device access and management.
The technical flaw in Avaya Argent Office 2.1 manifests in the improper string comparison algorithm that fails to validate the full length of SNMP community strings during authentication processes. When a user provides a community string for authentication, the system only compares the provided string up to the length of the user-entered value rather than performing a complete string comparison against the expected authentication value. This incomplete validation allows an attacker to bypass authentication by providing a zero-length community string, which effectively bypasses the authentication check entirely since the system performs no meaningful comparison when the input string is empty. This behavior represents a classic implementation flaw that violates fundamental security principles of proper credential validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized access to network management functions and sensitive system information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain administrative access to the Avaya Argent Office system without requiring legitimate credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote exploitation without requiring any prior knowledge of valid community strings, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. Organizations using this version of Avaya Argent Office face significant risk of unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of communication services. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-287, which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, as it enables unauthorized access through manipulated authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1262 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Avaya Argent Office 2.1 systems, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent software releases. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to SNMP-enabled systems and disable SNMPv1 where possible, favoring more secure SNMPv3 implementations that provide stronger authentication and encryption mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict access controls on management interfaces and implement network monitoring to detect anomalous authentication attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication handling in network management systems, emphasizing the need for thorough security testing of authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with SNMP authentication bypass attempts, providing additional layers of protection against exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.