CVE-2013-5530 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE
The web framework in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 1.0 and 1.1.0 before 1.1.0.665-5, 1.1.1 before 1.1.1.268-7, 1.1.2 before 1.1.2.145-10, 1.1.3 before 1.1.3.124-7, 1.1.4 before 1.1.4.218-7, and 1.2 before 1.2.0.899-2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted session on TCP port 443, aka Bug ID CSCuh81511.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5530 represents a critical command execution flaw within Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) web framework components. This issue affects multiple versions of the ISE platform including 1.0, 1.1.0 through 1.1.4, and 1.2 releases, specifically before their respective patch levels that address the flaw. The vulnerability manifests through a crafted session on TCP port 443, which is the standard secure web port, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal HTTPS communications. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the web application layer, creating a path for authenticated attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection flaws that allow attackers to execute operating system commands through vulnerable input handling mechanisms. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to access the ISE system, but once authenticated, they can leverage this vulnerability to execute commands with the privileges of the authenticated user. The exploitation occurs through the web interface on port 443, which typically handles secure management communications for the ISE platform, making this a particularly severe issue as it can be used to compromise the entire network access control infrastructure. The vulnerability does not require special privileges beyond authentication, and the crafted session allows for command injection that can potentially escalate to system-level privileges depending on the execution context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise network security infrastructure, as the ISE platform serves as a critical component for network access control and identity management. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources, potentially enabling them to bypass access controls, modify network policies, or even establish persistent backdoors within the network environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco ISE for identity services and network access control, potentially compromising the integrity of their entire network security posture. Attackers could use this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive network information, or disrupt network operations, making it a high-priority concern for security teams responsible for protecting enterprise networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant security patches released by Cisco to address the command injection flaw. The patching process should be prioritized and tested in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and prevent service disruption. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit the attack surface, while monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual network traffic patterns or authentication anomalies. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of authentication and privilege management to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This flaw highlights the critical need for secure coding practices and proper input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive network management functions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under command and control activities, where adversaries can use such flaws to execute arbitrary code and maintain persistence within compromised networks. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability, as the impact could extend beyond immediate command execution to include broader network compromise and data exfiltration.