CVE-2010-2842 in Wireless LAN Controller Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) software, possibly 4.2 through 6.0, allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and modify the configuration, and possibly obtain administrative privileges, via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-2843 and CVE-2010-3033.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2842 affects Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software across versions 4.2 through 6.0, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of wireless network management systems. This vulnerability operates within the context of wireless infrastructure security where the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller serves as the central management point for wireless access points and network policies. The flaw allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical network configurations. This represents a significant deviation from standard security models where authentication should establish clear privilege boundaries, yet this vulnerability enables attackers to escalate their privileges beyond what their initial authentication credentials should permit.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the WLC software implementation, where the system fails to adequately validate user permissions during configuration modification operations. Attackers who have gained initial authenticated access to the wireless controller can exploit this flaw to perform unauthorized configuration changes that should normally be restricted to administrative users only. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of API calls, command sequences, or session management protocols that govern how configuration changes are processed and validated. This weakness creates a pathway where legitimate authenticated users can be exploited to gain elevated privileges or modify critical network parameters without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2842 extends far beyond simple configuration modifications, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of wireless networks managed by affected Cisco controllers. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain administrative control over the entire wireless infrastructure, enabling them to modify access policies, create backdoor accounts, or disable security features that protect against unauthorized network access. The implications for enterprise networks are particularly severe since wireless controllers typically manage hundreds or thousands of access points and serve as the authoritative source for wireless network policies. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete network compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which would address the underlying access control flaws in the WLC software. Network segmentation strategies should be enhanced to isolate wireless controller management interfaces from general network traffic, while implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Monitoring and logging of configuration changes should be strengthened to detect unauthorized modifications that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1068, which covers local privilege escalation techniques. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation as outlined in industry best practices for secure network infrastructure management.