CVE-2008-0532 in ACS Solution Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in securecgi-bin/CSuserCGI.exe in User-Changeable Password (UCP) before 4.2 in Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) for Windows and ACS Solution Engine allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long argument located immediately after the Logout argument, and possibly unspecified other vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0532 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Cisco Secure Access Control Server authentication mechanism. This flaw exists in the CSuserCGI.exe component of the User-Changeable Password module, specifically affecting Cisco Secure ACS for Windows and ACS Solution Engine versions prior to 4.2. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the web-based administrative interface, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks that could compromise the entire authentication infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled input exceeds the allocated memory space for argument processing. The flaw manifests when a malicious actor constructs a specially crafted HTTP request containing an excessively long argument that appears immediately after the Logout parameter in the web interface. This specific positioning triggers the buffer overflow condition within the CGI executable, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation requires network access to the affected web interface and does not necessitate authentication for initial exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the authentication system's integrity. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain administrative privileges within the Cisco Secure ACS environment, potentially allowing them to modify user accounts, access sensitive authentication data, or establish persistent access points. The vulnerability affects the core authentication infrastructure of Cisco's secure access control solution, which is designed to manage network access controls and user authentication for enterprise environments, making the potential impact severe for organizations relying on this security solution.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including patching to version 4.2 or later of Cisco Secure ACS, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interface, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation tactics. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malformed requests targeting the vulnerable CGI endpoint, while conducting thorough network assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the administrative web interfaces of critical security infrastructure components.