CVE-2012-4081 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
MCServer in the Cisco Management Controller in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to cause a denial of service (application crash) via invalid MCTools parameters, aka Bug ID CSCtg20734.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4081 affects the Cisco Management Controller component within the Cisco Unified Computing System architecture, specifically targeting the MCServer application. This issue represents a local privilege escalation vulnerability that enables authenticated users with access to the management controller to trigger application instability through malformed MCTools parameter inputs. The vulnerability resides in the processing logic of the management controller's server component, which fails to properly validate input parameters before execution, leading to potential system-wide service disruption.
The technical flaw manifests when the MCServer application processes invalid MCTools parameters without adequate input sanitization or validation mechanisms. This weakness creates a condition where maliciously crafted parameter sequences can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively resulting in a denial of service scenario. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation in this case involves parameter parsing rather than direct memory corruption. The flaw occurs at the application layer where user-supplied parameters are consumed without proper boundary checking or validation routines.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Cisco UCS environments as it allows local attackers to disrupt management services that are critical for system administration and monitoring. The denial of service condition can prevent legitimate administrators from accessing management interfaces, performing system maintenance, or responding to operational issues, potentially leading to extended downtime and reduced system availability. The vulnerability affects the overall resilience of the Cisco Unified Computing System infrastructure, particularly in environments where management controller access is necessary for routine operations and system health monitoring.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address the parameter validation flaw in the MCServer application. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit local access to management controller components where possible. Security monitoring should be configured to detect unusual parameter processing patterns or application crash events that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, though this specific case represents an internal service disruption rather than external network-based exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar parameter validation weaknesses in other management components within the Cisco UCS ecosystem.