CVE-2006-1672 in Transport Controller
Summary
by MITRE
The installation of Cisco Transport Controller (CTC) for Cisco Optical Networking System (ONS) 15000 series nodes adds a Java policy file entry with a wildcard that grants the java.security.AllPermission permission to any http URL containing "fs/LAUNCHER.jar", which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on a CTC workstation, aka bug ID CSCea25049.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1672 affects the Cisco Transport Controller (CTC) software deployed on Cisco Optical Networking System (ONS) 15000 series nodes. This security flaw represents a critical privilege escalation and remote code execution vulnerability that stems from improper Java security policy configuration during the installation process. The vulnerability specifically targets the Java Runtime Environment's security model implementation within the CTC workstation environment, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security boundaries of the system.
The technical flaw manifests through the installation process adding a Java policy file entry that employs a wildcard pattern granting java.security.AllPermission to any HTTP URL containing the specific path fragment "fs/LAUNCHER.jar". This wildcard-based permission assignment creates an insecure security context where any remote attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests that match this pattern and gain unrestricted access to the Java runtime environment. The vulnerability resides in the Java security policy mechanism, which should normally enforce strict access controls but instead allows broad permissions through this poorly configured wildcard entry. This pattern aligns with CWE-254, representing a weakness in the security policy implementation where insufficient access control mechanisms are in place to prevent unauthorized code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the network infrastructure environment. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on CTC workstations without requiring authentication or physical access to the system. The implications extend beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise the entire optical networking infrastructure managed by the affected nodes. Attackers can manipulate network configurations, disrupt services, or establish persistent access points within the network operations center. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it provides an initial foothold for attackers to escalate privileges and maintain persistent access within the network infrastructure.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to the broader principles of least privilege and defense in depth that are fundamental to secure system design. The wildcard permission granted through the Java policy file violates core security principles by providing excessive permissions to any system that matches the specified URL pattern. This configuration essentially removes the security boundary that should exist between different network components and allows unauthorized code execution in a privileged context. Organizations implementing Cisco ONS 15000 series equipment must recognize that this vulnerability affects not just individual workstations but potentially the entire network management infrastructure that relies on these controllers for operation and monitoring. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the security configuration management process where default installations contain inherently insecure settings that require manual intervention to correct.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate remediation through proper Java security policy configuration and system hardening measures. Organizations should disable or remove the wildcard permission entry from the Java policy file and implement more restrictive access controls that limit permissions to specific trusted URLs and domains. The recommended approach includes reviewing all Java policy files for similar wildcard patterns and replacing them with precise, whitelisted entries that specify exact URLs and trusted sources. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of CTC workstations to untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security audits of Java-based applications and their security policies should be conducted to prevent similar configuration errors from occurring in other system components. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures that validate the effectiveness of security controls before deployment.