CVE-2008-0029 in Application Velocity System
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Application Velocity System (AVS) before 5.1.0 is installed with default passwords for some system accounts, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The Cisco Application Velocity System represents a critical infrastructure component designed to optimize application delivery and network performance. This system operates as a content delivery platform that manages and accelerates web content delivery across enterprise networks. The vulnerability in question affects versions prior to 5.1.0, indicating a long-standing security flaw that persisted across multiple releases. The default credential issue specifically targets system accounts within the AVS architecture, creating a fundamental weakness that undermines the entire security posture of the platform.
The technical flaw manifests through the inclusion of hard-coded default passwords for administrative accounts during the initial system installation. These default credentials are typically well-documented and widely available within security communities, making them easily exploitable by malicious actors. The vulnerability follows the pattern of weak authentication mechanisms that have been classified under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software. This weakness allows unauthenticated remote attackers to establish privileged sessions with the system, bypassing the normal authentication procedures. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor access point that exists from the moment the system is deployed, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the initial configuration phase of the appliance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access. Remote attackers who exploit this weakness can gain full administrative privileges over the Application Velocity System, enabling them to manipulate content delivery configurations, modify network traffic routing, and potentially compromise the entire enterprise network. The attack vector requires no special tools or complex exploitation techniques, as the default passwords are readily available and the system accepts remote connections. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as attackers can leverage legitimate system accounts to maintain persistent access. The implications are severe because AVS systems often operate at critical network chokepoints where they control content delivery and network optimization, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt services or establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and systematic implementation. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected AVS appliances to version 5.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the default credential issue. System administrators must conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all instances of the vulnerable software across their network infrastructure. The remediation process should include changing default passwords for all system accounts and implementing strong password policies that enforce complexity requirements and regular rotation schedules. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to one system, they cannot easily move laterally across the enterprise network. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why security by design principles are essential and why default configurations should never be left unchanged in production environments.