CVE-2006-4352 in Content Services Switch 11000
Summary
by MITRE
The ArrowPoint cookie functionality for Cisco 11000 series Content Service Switches specifies an internal IP address if the administrator does not specify a string option, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4352 affects Cisco 11000 series Content Service Switches and represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the ArrowPoint cookie functionality. This weakness stems from the device's default behavior when administrators fail to explicitly configure a string option for cookie handling, causing the system to automatically embed internal IP addresses within the cookie data. The issue manifests as a design flaw that violates fundamental security principles by inadvertently exposing sensitive network infrastructure details to external parties. The vulnerability specifically impacts the configuration management aspect of the device, where insufficient input validation and default parameter handling create an attack surface that adversaries can exploit without requiring elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the cookie generation mechanism of the ArrowPoint content switching platform, which operates at the application layer of the network infrastructure. When the administrator does not explicitly define a cookie string option, the system defaults to including internal IP address information within the generated cookie values. This behavior creates a direct information disclosure channel that allows remote attackers to extract network topology information, including private IP addresses that should remain confidential within the internal network. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a classic case of unintended data leakage through improper configuration handling. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege and network segmentation by providing attackers with crucial information needed for further reconnaissance and potential exploitation of other network components.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4352 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with foundational network intelligence that can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the affected network environment. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability gain access to internal IP address information that can be used to map network topology, identify potential targets for further attacks, and understand the structure of the internal network infrastructure. This information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, which covers "System Information Discovery," and represents a critical weakness in the device's security posture. The vulnerability affects network availability and integrity by potentially enabling attackers to bypass certain security controls that rely on IP address obfuscation, making the network more susceptible to targeted attacks that leverage this leaked information for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including explicit configuration of cookie string options to prevent the automatic inclusion of internal IP addresses, regular security audits to verify proper configuration settings, and network monitoring to detect anomalous cookie usage patterns. The recommended approach involves establishing strict configuration management policies that mandate explicit definition of all cookie handling parameters, ensuring that administrators understand the security implications of default settings. Additionally, network segmentation strategies should be reinforced to limit the impact of information disclosure, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar configuration weaknesses across the network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure default configurations and highlights the need for comprehensive security awareness training for network administrators to prevent unintentional exposure of sensitive information through seemingly benign configuration parameters.