CVE-2012-4105 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
The fabric-interconnect component in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to cause a denial of service (component crash) via crafted "debug hardware" parameters, aka Bug ID CSCtq86468.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4105 affects the fabric-interconnect component within Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) environments, representing a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to execute denial of service attacks against system components. This vulnerability specifically targets the debug hardware functionality within the fabric-interconnect module, which serves as a crucial communication hub connecting various UCS components. The issue manifests when local users submit crafted debug hardware parameters that trigger unexpected behavior in the system's processing mechanisms, ultimately leading to component crashes and system instability. The vulnerability was documented under Bug ID CSCtq86468, indicating its recognition within Cisco's internal tracking systems and highlighting the severity of impact on production environments. The fabric-interconnect component plays a pivotal role in UCS infrastructure by managing traffic between servers, storage, and network components, making any disruption to its functionality particularly dangerous for enterprise computing environments.
The technical flaw resides in the insufficient input validation and parameter handling mechanisms within the debug hardware processing code of the fabric-interconnect component. When legitimate debug hardware commands are submitted with malformed or specially crafted parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing them, leading to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or unexpected state transitions within the component's execution environment. This weakness stems from inadequate error handling and validation routines that do not adequately account for edge cases or maliciously constructed parameter combinations. The vulnerability exploits the inherent trust placed in local administrative functions, where the system assumes that debug commands originate from authorized sources without sufficient verification of parameter integrity. This design flaw aligns with common software security vulnerabilities categorized under CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of the length or size of input data, and CWE-170, which addresses improper handling of input data that contains special characters or sequences that can cause unexpected behavior in processing routines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting entire data center operations and business continuity. When the fabric-interconnect component crashes due to malicious debug hardware parameters, it can cause cascading failures throughout the UCS infrastructure, disrupting communication paths between servers, storage arrays, and network devices. This disruption can lead to complete system outages, requiring manual intervention to restart failed components and potentially resulting in extended downtime for critical applications and services. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system's administrative interfaces or physical access to the device can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged access controls are not properly enforced. Organizations relying on UCS for their data center infrastructure face significant risks including loss of productivity, potential data integrity issues, and the need for emergency maintenance procedures that can impact business operations and service level agreements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4105 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements within UCS environments. Cisco has released specific software updates and patches addressing this vulnerability, which organizations should deploy immediately to protect their systems. The recommended approach includes applying the latest firmware updates to fabric-interconnect components and implementing strict access controls to limit local administrative privileges to only authorized personnel. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual debug command activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation mechanisms and conducting regular security assessments of system components can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns in system components, particularly around debug and administrative functions, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's techniques for privilege escalation and defense evasion. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential weaknesses in the system's security posture and ensure that all components remain protected against known and emerging threats.