CVE-2012-1365 in Unified Computing System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) 1.4 and 2.0 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a malformed SNMP request to a Fabric Interconnect (FI) device, aka Bug ID CSCts32463.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1365 affects Cisco Unified Computing System versions 1.4 and 2.0, specifically targeting the Fabric Interconnect (FI) devices within the UCS infrastructure. This issue represents a significant security weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted SNMP requests. The vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed SNMP messages within the Fabric Interconnect component, which forms a critical part of Cisco's data center networking architecture. Fabric Interconnect devices serve as the primary switching and routing components in UCS environments, connecting servers to the network while providing essential management and monitoring capabilities. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a device reload, effectively causing a denial of service condition that can severely impact data center operations and business continuity.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the SNMP processing module of the Fabric Interconnect firmware. When the device receives a malformed SNMP request, the system fails to properly sanitize or reject the malformed data, leading to an unexpected state that triggers an automatic device restart. This behavior manifests as a complete system reload, which can occur without any indication of malicious activity from the attacker's perspective. The vulnerability specifically affects the SNMP protocol implementation within the Cisco UCS management plane, where the Fabric Interconnect device handles various management protocols including SNMP for monitoring and configuration purposes. The lack of proper error handling and input validation creates an exploitable condition where authenticated users can craft specific SNMP packets that cause the device to crash and restart, resulting in service disruption for all systems connected through that Fabric Interconnect.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to data center availability and reliability. Fabric Interconnect devices are fundamental to UCS infrastructure, serving as the primary connection point between servers and the network fabric while providing critical management functions. When these devices experience unexpected reloads, it can result in complete network disruption for all systems connected through that fabric, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of servers depending on the deployment size. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the automatic reload process can cause temporary loss of management access, leading to extended downtime while systems recover. Organizations relying on Cisco UCS for their data center operations face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where high availability and continuous operation are critical requirements. The fact that the attack requires only authenticated access makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts rather than requiring external network access.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization in network management protocols. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service attacks, specifically targeting network infrastructure components. The attack vector requires authentication, making it a privilege escalation or lateral movement threat that can be leveraged by attackers who have already gained access to the system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to the latest available versions that address the SNMP processing flaws, network segmentation to limit access to Fabric Interconnect management interfaces, and enhanced monitoring of SNMP traffic for anomalous patterns. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls and restricting SNMP access to only necessary management systems can reduce the attack surface while ensuring that the vulnerability cannot be exploited through unauthorized access paths.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through firmware updates that include improved SNMP message validation and enhanced error handling mechanisms within the Fabric Interconnect components. Organizations should prioritize updating their UCS infrastructure to versions that contain the patched SNMP processing code, which prevents the malformed requests from triggering device reloads. The remediation process involves careful planning and coordination to minimize disruption during firmware upgrades, particularly in production environments where multiple Fabric Interconnect devices may be deployed. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unusual SNMP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, providing early warning capabilities before complete service disruption occurs. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar input validation issues have not been introduced in other components of the UCS infrastructure, maintaining overall security posture against evolving threat landscapes.