CVE-2011-0364 in Security Agent
Summary
by MITRE
The Management Console (webagent.exe) in Cisco Security Agent 5.1, 5.2, and 6.0 before 6.0.2.145 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files and execute arbitrary code via unspecified parameters in a crafted st_upload request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0364 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Cisco Security Agent management console component known as webagent.exe. This vulnerability affects Cisco Security Agent versions 5.1, 5.2, and 6.0 prior to 6.0.2.145, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Cisco's security infrastructure. The flaw manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the st_upload request processing functionality, which allows malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied parameters within the webagent.exe process. When processing the st_upload request, the management console fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, enabling attackers to inject malicious file paths or execution commands. This improper input handling creates a path traversal and arbitrary code execution vector that can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard network protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized access privileges to initiate.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise security infrastructures as it allows attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on systems running vulnerable Cisco Security Agent versions. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to install backdoors, modify security policies, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to the compromised systems. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire network security postures, as the management console typically serves as a central control point for security policies and configurations. Organizations may experience complete loss of security control over their protected assets, with potential data exfiltration and lateral movement capabilities for attackers who exploit this vulnerability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as it enables remote code execution and privilege escalation capabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, disabling unnecessary management console access, and implementing network segmentation controls to limit potential attack vectors. The recommended remediation strategy involves upgrading to Cisco Security Agent version 6.0.2.145 or later, which contains the necessary code fixes to address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious st_upload request patterns and unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces.