CVE-2011-3305 in Nac Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC) Manager 4.8.x allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted traffic to TCP port 443, aka Bug ID CSCtq10755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3305 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Cisco Network Admission Control NAC Manager version 4.8.x, specifically affecting the application's handling of incoming network traffic on TCP port 443. This weakness enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized file access operations by crafting malicious network packets that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the NAC Manager's web interface. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to adequately sanitize user-supplied input parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate file path references and gain access to sensitive system files that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file path parameters within the NAC Manager's web services. When legitimate users or attackers send specially crafted requests to the HTTPS port 443, the application fails to properly filter or sanitize the input data, enabling attackers to append directory traversal sequences such as "../" or "..\\" to navigate beyond the intended file access boundaries. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the web server's inherent trust in authenticated connections, allowing an attacker to bypass normal access controls and potentially retrieve configuration files, credential stores, or other sensitive data that resides within the application's file system hierarchy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system information that could facilitate further exploitation attempts. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure of sensitive configuration files, user credentials, or system logs that may contain valuable intelligence for advanced persistent threat actors. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Cisco NAC Manager 4.8.x deployments, potentially compromising network access control policies and undermining the security posture of enterprise networks that depend on proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. This flaw particularly threatens environments where NAC Manager serves as a central point for network access control, as it could enable attackers to understand network topology, access control rules, and potentially gain unauthorized network access through the compromise of underlying authentication systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco, which address the directory traversal vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization of file path parameters. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit direct exposure of the NAC Manager to untrusted networks, while implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses directory traversal flaws in software applications, and represents a common attack vector categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable web interface, while conducting comprehensive network audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems. Additionally, organizations should review and update their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and containment of potential exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability could serve as an initial access vector for more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader enterprise network infrastructure.