CVE-2013-3398 in Prime Central for Hosted Collaboration Solution
Summary
by MITRE
The web framework in Cisco Prime Central for Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) Assurance provides different responses to requests for arbitrary pathnames depending on whether the pathname exists, which allows remote attackers to enumerate directories and files via a series of crafted requests, aka Bug ID CSCuh64574.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3398 resides within the web framework of Cisco Prime Central for Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) Assurance, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that enables unauthorized enumeration of system resources. This weakness manifests through the framework's inconsistent handling of requests for arbitrary pathnames, where the application's response varies significantly based on whether the requested path exists within the file system. Such behavior creates a predictable pattern that malicious actors can exploit to map the underlying directory structure and identify sensitive files and resources without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling and response generation within the web application's file access mechanisms. When a request is made for a pathname that exists, the system typically returns a successful response with content or metadata related to that resource. However, when the same request is made for a non-existent pathname, the application generates a different response type, often including error messages or status codes that reveal information about the file system structure. This differential response behavior creates a reconnaissance vector that allows attackers to systematically determine which files and directories are accessible through the web interface, effectively providing a roadmap for further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial intelligence for subsequent attack phases. The ability to enumerate directories and files creates opportunities for exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the system, such as directory traversal attacks, arbitrary file inclusion, or privilege escalation attempts. Attackers can leverage this information to identify configuration files, backup files, source code repositories, or other sensitive resources that may contain credentials, system configurations, or application logic that could be exploited for more severe compromises. This enumeration capability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and represents a fundamental reconnaissance step in the attack lifecycle.
From a security standards perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-540 (Information Exposure Through Source Code) categories, as it provides unauthorized access to system information that should remain hidden from external parties. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) in its potential to be combined with other techniques for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database reflects its severity in enabling unauthorized information gathering, which serves as a foundation for more complex attack scenarios. Organizations implementing Cisco Prime Central for HCS Assurance should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where sensitive collaboration data and system configurations are managed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3398 should focus on implementing consistent error handling across all file access operations within the web framework. The solution involves configuring the application to return uniform responses regardless of whether requested pathnames exist, eliminating the differential behavior that enables enumeration. Security patches provided by Cisco should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls, restricting file system access through web interfaces, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious enumeration patterns. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be configured to alert on unusual request patterns that may indicate enumeration attempts, as this vulnerability represents a clear indicator of reconnaissance activity that precedes more serious exploitation efforts.