CVE-2012-4082 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
MCTools in the Cisco Management Controller in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to gain privileges by entering crafted command-line parameters on a Fabric Interconnect device, aka Bug ID CSCtg20749.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4082 resides within the MCTools component of Cisco's Management Controller implementation in the Cisco Unified Computing System platform. This security flaw specifically affects Fabric Interconnect devices which serve as critical network infrastructure components within Cisco UCS environments. The vulnerability represents a privilege escalation issue that enables local attackers to elevate their system privileges through manipulation of command-line parameters, potentially compromising the entire UCS management infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the MCTools utility implementation. When local users execute crafted command-line parameters against the Fabric Interconnect device, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters before processing them. This inadequate validation creates a path for attackers to inject malicious commands or parameters that can bypass normal access controls and privilege boundaries. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized privilege escalation from a standard user account to elevated administrative privileges, which is a critical security concern for enterprise infrastructure management systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with comprehensive control over the management functions of the Fabric Interconnect device. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains the ability to modify system configurations, access sensitive management data, manipulate network policies, and potentially compromise the entire Cisco UCS domain. This represents a significant threat to enterprise network security since Fabric Interconnect devices serve as central management points for large-scale data center infrastructures. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco UCS for their server virtualization and data center management, potentially exposing critical business infrastructure to unauthorized access and manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates released to address the privilege escalation flaw. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local access to Fabric Interconnect devices, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous command-line usage patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how inadequate parameter validation can lead to privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and may enable further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper access controls are implemented across all management interfaces within their Cisco UCS environments.