CVE-2011-2547 in SA 500 Software
Summary
by MITRE
The web-based management interface on Cisco SA 500 series security appliances with software before 2.1.19 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via crafted parameters to web forms, aka Bug ID CSCtq65681.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2547 represents a critical command injection flaw within Cisco SA 500 series security appliances. This issue affects devices running software versions prior to 2.1.19 and resides within the web-based management interface component of these network security devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web forms that process user-supplied parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted parameters submitted to web forms within the appliance's management interface. When authenticated users submit maliciously constructed input through these web forms, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing. This lack of proper input validation allows attackers to inject command sequences that get executed with the privileges of the web interface user, typically escalating to administrative privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, which are fundamental security flaws that enable arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote authenticated attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary commands on affected Cisco SA 500 series appliances. This compromise can lead to complete system takeover, allowing attackers to modify firewall rules, access network traffic, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the security appliance, potentially compromising the entire network security posture that relies on these devices for protection. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to internal network resources and escalate their privileges within the security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2547 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Cisco. Organizations should prioritize upgrading affected appliances to software version 2.1.19 or later, which includes fixes addressing the input validation weaknesses. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the attack surface, restricting access to the web management interface to only authorized personnel. Additional protective measures include monitoring web interface access logs for suspicious activity, implementing network intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive backup configurations for rapid recovery if compromise occurs. Security professionals should also consider the ATT&CK framework's command and control techniques when developing defensive strategies, as this vulnerability enables adversaries to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands within the network environment.