CVE-2009-0062 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC), Cisco Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Module (WiSM), and Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controller with software 4.2.173.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unknown vectors, as demonstrated by escalation from the (1) Lobby Admin and (2) Local Management User privilege levels.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0062 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Cisco's wireless infrastructure components including the Wireless LAN Controller WLC, Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Module WiSM, and Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controller. This unspecified vulnerability exists within software version 4.2.173.0 and demonstrates a significant security weakness that allows remote authenticated users to elevate their privileges beyond the standard Lobby Admin and Local Management User levels. The flaw operates through unknown vectors that have not been fully disclosed in the public domain, making it particularly concerning for network administrators who cannot fully assess the attack surface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation attacks, which are classified as CWE-264 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. This type of vulnerability enables attackers who already possess legitimate credentials to gain higher-level access permissions within the wireless infrastructure. The specific vectors through which the escalation occurs remain undisclosed, but the fact that it affects multiple Cisco products suggests a fundamental flaw in the privilege management system rather than a product-specific issue. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to move from the Lobby Admin level, which typically provides limited access to wireless services, to the Local Management User level, which grants more extensive control over the wireless network configuration and operations.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco's wireless infrastructure solutions. The remote nature of the attack means that authenticated users who have gained initial access to the wireless network can potentially escalate their privileges without requiring physical access or additional authentication mechanisms. This capability undermines the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to network security architectures and could enable attackers to gain full control over wireless network operations, including the ability to modify access policies, create unauthorized network segments, or intercept wireless communications. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where wireless networks serve as critical infrastructure components for business operations and employee productivity.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across multiple Cisco product lines, indicating that the flaw exists at a software architecture level rather than being limited to a single device type. Organizations using these specific software versions should consider immediate remediation actions, including software updates from Cisco that address the privilege escalation vulnerability. The lack of detailed information about the specific vectors makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it cannot be properly mitigated without complete knowledge of how the escalation occurs. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring and access controls to detect potential exploitation attempts and should consider conducting comprehensive security assessments of their wireless infrastructure to identify any potential indicators of compromise.
The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate privilege escalation to include broader security posture concerns. The ability to escalate privileges from Lobby Admin to Local Management User levels suggests potential weaknesses in the authentication and authorization frameworks within Cisco's wireless software implementations. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and represents a common attack pattern where initial access is used to gain higher-level permissions. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities and ensure that wireless network access is properly restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.