CVE-2007-1067 in Security Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Secure Services Client (CSSC) 4.x, Trust Agent 1.x and 2.x, Cisco Security Agent (CSA) 5.0 and 5.1 (when a vulnerable Trust Agent has been deployed), and the Meetinghouse AEGIS SecureConnect Client do not properly parse commands, which allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, aka CSCsh30624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1067 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting multiple Cisco security products including the Cisco Secure Services Client version 4.x, Trust Agent versions 1.x and 2.x, Cisco Security Agent version 5.0 and 5.1, and the Meetinghouse AEGIS SecureConnect Client. This issue stems from improper command parsing mechanisms within these security applications, creating a pathway for local attackers to elevate their privileges within the system environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects components that are integral to network security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated system access that could compromise the entire security posture of affected systems. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the exact exploitation methods are not fully detailed in the initial vulnerability report, but the core issue lies in how these applications handle command processing and validation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability resides in the insufficient input validation and command parsing mechanisms implemented within the affected Cisco security applications. When these applications process commands from local users, they fail to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters, allowing maliciously crafted commands to bypass normal security checks. This parsing flaw creates an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks where local users can manipulate the command execution flow to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the applications are designed to operate with elevated privileges to perform their security functions, making the potential impact of this flaw particularly severe. The issue falls under CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how security mechanisms can be subverted through command injection or manipulation vulnerabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco security infrastructure, as local users who can execute commands on affected systems can potentially gain administrative privileges. The attack vector requires local system access, which means that an attacker would need to first obtain user-level access before being able to exploit this vulnerability. However, the severity increases when considering that these applications are typically deployed with elevated privileges to perform their security functions, making the potential damage much more substantial. The vulnerability affects a range of security products that are commonly used in enterprise environments, potentially creating widespread impact across multiple systems and network segments that rely on these security solutions for protection. This flaw could enable attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, or even take complete control of the affected systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by applying the relevant security patches and updates provided by Cisco for all affected products. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing security configurations. System administrators should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software across their network infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing least privilege principles for user accounts, monitoring system logs for suspicious command execution patterns, and maintaining detailed inventory records of all installed security applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and command handling in security-critical applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities and establish robust incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should be enhanced to identify similar parsing and validation issues in other security applications and system components.