CVE-2007-0960 in PIX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco PIX 500 and ASA 5500 Series Security Appliances 7.2.2, when configured to use the LOCAL authentication method, allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0960 affects Cisco PIX 500 and ASA 5500 Series Security Appliances running software version 7.2.2 when configured with LOCAL authentication method. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables remote authenticated users to elevate their access rights within the security appliance environment. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical flaw resides in the authentication mechanism implementation within the security appliance software, specifically when LOCAL authentication is enabled. This configuration allows users to authenticate against locally stored credentials rather than external authentication servers such as RADIUS or TACACS+. The vulnerability manifests when authenticated users attempt to leverage weaknesses in the privilege handling system, potentially allowing them to bypass normal access controls and gain elevated privileges. This issue falls under the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities that can be classified as CWE-264, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers who have already established legitimate authentication credentials to escalate their privileges without requiring additional authentication factors. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to gain administrative access to the security appliance, potentially compromising the entire network security infrastructure. This vulnerability directly affects the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to modify firewall rules, access sensitive network data, and potentially use the appliance as a pivot point for further attacks within the network.
The threat landscape for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it affects widely deployed security appliances that serve as network perimeters. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical network security controls, potentially leading to data breaches, network infiltration, and complete compromise of the protected network environment. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from external network positions without requiring physical access or additional authentication credentials beyond initial login.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate software updates to versions that address the privilege escalation vulnerability, ensuring that the appliance is running the latest security patches from Cisco. Organizations should also implement additional access controls such as disabling LOCAL authentication where possible and implementing external authentication servers with stronger security measures. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual privilege escalation activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through the use of local system privileges, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or exploitation of authentication mechanisms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in the network infrastructure.