CVE-2012-1313 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
The remote debug shell on the PALO adapter card in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to gain privileges via malformed show-macstats parameters, aka Bug ID CSCub13772.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1313 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Cisco Unified Computing System's PALO adapter card remote debug shell functionality. This issue affects the underlying security architecture of Cisco's data center infrastructure, specifically targeting the privileged access mechanisms that should remain restricted to authorized administrative users. The vulnerability resides in the parameter validation process of the show-macstats command, which is part of the debugging interface designed for system diagnostics and monitoring purposes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of malformed parameters passed to the show-macstats command within the remote debug shell environment. When local users submit crafted or invalid parameter values, the system fails to properly validate these inputs, creating a path for privilege escalation. This flaw operates at the kernel level within the PALO adapter card's firmware, where insufficient input sanitization allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative privileges. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper handling of command line arguments and parameter parsing within the debug shell implementation, creating an insecure direct object reference scenario that enables unauthorized privilege elevation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the Cisco Unified Computing System infrastructure. Local attackers who can access the debug shell environment can gain administrative control over the adapter card and potentially the entire system, undermining the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. This vulnerability particularly affects data center environments where the Unified Computing System is deployed, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network monitoring and management functions. The security implications include potential data exfiltration, system compromise, and disruption of network services that rely on the UCS infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of firmware updates from Cisco, as the company released specific patches addressing the input validation flaws in the PALO adapter card's debug shell functionality. Network administrators should also implement strict access controls limiting who can access the debug shell environment and regularly audit system logs for suspicious parameter usage patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected systems and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the debug shell functionality. Additionally, monitoring should be implemented to detect malformed parameter usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to critical security breaches in enterprise infrastructure systems.