CVE-2012-4103 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
ethanalyzer in the fabric-interconnect component in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to gain privileges by embedding commands in an unspecified parameter, aka Bug ID CSCtq02686.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4103 affects the ethanalyzer functionality within the fabric-interconnect component of Cisco Unified Computing System UCS platforms. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that specifically targets local users who have access to the system. The flaw manifests through an unspecified parameter that can be manipulated to embed malicious commands, allowing unauthorized elevation of privileges. The vulnerability was documented under Bug ID CSCtq02686, indicating it was recognized and tracked by Cisco's internal bug tracking systems. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise computing environments where UCS systems serve as critical infrastructure components for data center operations and virtualization platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation within the ethanalyzer component's parameter handling mechanism. When a local user submits a specially crafted parameter containing embedded commands, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing. This lack of proper input validation creates an injection point where malicious code can be executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the fabric-interconnect component which serves as the central management and connectivity point for UCS domains, making it a critical attack surface. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-74, which describes "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component," and CWE-94, which covers "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')."
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4103 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with elevated system access that can be leveraged for further exploitation. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive system information, modify configurations, or even compromise the entire fabric-interconnect component. The fabric-interconnect serves as a crucial bridge between compute resources and network infrastructure, meaning compromise of this component can affect the entire UCS domain. Attackers could use this privilege escalation to manipulate network traffic, access virtual machine configurations, or establish persistent access points within the data center environment. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using Cisco UCS for mission-critical applications where the fabric-interconnect component is essential for maintaining system integrity and security posture. The attack vector is limited to local users, but in shared or multi-tenant environments, this could enable attackers to escalate their access level and potentially compromise other users or systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the ethanalyzer component. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated and that any embedded commands are explicitly rejected or properly escaped. Cisco released specific patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and system administrators should immediately apply the relevant security updates. Network segmentation and least-privilege access controls should be implemented to limit local user access to critical system components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar injection points within system components. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability relates to T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1059, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter." Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date security patches and following Cisco's security advisory practices is essential for preventing exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.