CVE-2013-3428 in Secure Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) does not properly suppress error-condition details, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via an unspecified request that triggers an error, aka Bug ID CSCue65957.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3428 affects Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) web interface, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to authenticated attackers. This vulnerability resides within the error handling mechanisms of the web application layer, where the system fails to properly sanitize error messages before returning them to users. The issue specifically manifests when authenticated users submit crafted requests that trigger internal system errors, causing the application to reveal diagnostic information that should remain hidden from end users.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate error handling practices within the Cisco ACS web interface implementation, where error-condition details are not properly suppressed during error processing. This misconfiguration allows attackers to exploit specific request patterns that cause the system to generate and return error messages containing sensitive information such as stack traces, internal system paths, database connection details, or other diagnostic data that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability is classified as an information disclosure weakness that falls under CWE-209, which specifically addresses the improper handling of error conditions that lead to information leakage.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on Cisco ACS for network access control and authentication services. The sensitive information exposed through error conditions could include internal network architecture details, system configurations, or authentication mechanisms that would otherwise remain hidden from attackers. This exposure potentially enables adversaries to conduct more sophisticated attacks by leveraging the leaked information to identify system weaknesses, understand internal structures, or develop targeted exploitation strategies. The vulnerability affects remote authenticated users, meaning that attackers who have already gained valid credentials can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data could facilitate more advanced exploitation techniques. Security researchers have noted that such error information disclosure vulnerabilities often serve as stepping stones for attackers to progress through the attack chain, potentially leading to full system compromise. Organizations using Cisco ACS are particularly vulnerable because the system serves as a critical access control point, making any information disclosure within its web interface potentially catastrophic for network security posture. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in application error handling and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which covers exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gather intelligence for subsequent attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3428 should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms within the Cisco ACS web interface, ensuring that all error conditions are sanitized before being returned to users. Organizations should apply the latest security patches and updates provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability, as well as implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the impact of any successful exploitation, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar error handling weaknesses in other applications and systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation and error management as recommended in industry security frameworks and standards.