CVE-2012-4115 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
The fabric-interconnect component in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) does not encrypt KVM virtual-media data, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network or modify this traffic by inserting packets into the client-server data stream, aka Bug ID CSCtr72964.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4115 affects the fabric-interconnect component within Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) environments, representing a critical security weakness in the management and control plane of enterprise data centers. This flaw specifically impacts the KVM virtual-media functionality that enables administrators to remotely access and control server hardware through virtual console sessions. The vulnerability resides in the lack of proper encryption for data transmitted during KVM virtual-media sessions, creating an exploitable gap in the security posture of Cisco UCS deployments that can be leveraged by sophisticated attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of encryption mechanisms for KVM virtual-media data flows within the fabric-interconnect component. When administrators establish remote console sessions to servers through the UCS management interface, the data transmitted between the client and server components travels unencrypted across the network infrastructure. This unencrypted transmission exposes sensitive information including authentication credentials, system configurations, and operational data to passive network sniffing attacks. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to implement Transport Layer Security (TLS) or equivalent encryption protocols for virtual media sessions, leaving the communication channel susceptible to both passive eavesdropping and active man-in-the-middle attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers capable of intercepting network traffic can extract sensitive credentials and system information from KVM sessions, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges within the UCS environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the communication channel, as malicious actors can not only observe but also modify data streams by injecting packets into the client-server communication, violating fundamental security principles of confidentiality and data integrity. This weakness undermines the trust model of the UCS management infrastructure and creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate server configurations or gain unauthorized access to critical enterprise resources.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate UCS management traffic, deployment of network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns, and implementation of additional authentication controls for KVM sessions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues, and represents a specific instance of insufficient encryption in network communications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through network infiltration, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to UCS management interfaces, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar unencrypted communication channels within their infrastructure.