CVE-2012-4108 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
The fabric-interconnect component in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) allows local users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary operating-system commands via crafted parameters to a file-related command, aka Bug ID CSCtq86554.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4108 resides within the fabric-interconnect component of Cisco Unified Computing System UCS, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary operating-system commands. This vulnerability specifically affects the file-related command processing functionality within the fabric-interconnect, which serves as a core management and control component for UCS environments. The fabric-interconnect acts as a central point for managing network connectivity, storage connectivity, and system monitoring within UCS domains, making it a prime target for attackers seeking elevated privileges within the infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and sanitization of parameters passed to file-related commands within the fabric-interconnect component. Attackers can craft malicious parameters that bypass existing security controls and validation mechanisms, allowing them to manipulate the command execution flow. This vulnerability operates at the system level where local users already have access to the fabric-interconnect environment, but through this flaw they can escalate their privileges from standard user access to administrative privileges. The issue stems from insufficient parameter validation that fails to properly sanitize user-supplied inputs, creating a path for command injection attacks that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations utilizing Cisco UCS environments, as it provides attackers with a direct path to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. Once exploited, the attacker can gain full administrative control over the fabric-interconnect, potentially compromising the entire UCS domain. This includes the ability to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, disable security features, and establish persistent access points within the infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire UCS management plane, as the fabric-interconnect serves as a critical control point for the entire system. Organizations may experience complete loss of control over their unified computing infrastructure, with potential cascading effects on connected systems and services that depend on the UCS environment for operation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4108 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Cisco, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local access to fabric-interconnect components and enforce strict access controls using role-based access control mechanisms. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel have local access to these critical management components. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and parameter inputs that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential command injection patterns and anomalous behavior in fabric-interconnect communications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection flaws and improper input validation, and represents a technique that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and execution through the use of legitimate system tools and interfaces.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in system management components and highlights how flaws in seemingly simple parameter handling can lead to complete system compromise. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their UCS environments to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all management interfaces properly validate and sanitize inputs. Regular security audits and penetration testing of management components can help identify potential privilege escalation paths before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The security community should also consider this vulnerability as part of broader discussions around securing data center infrastructure and the importance of protecting management planes from both internal and external threats.