CVE-2013-6695 in Secure Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE
The RBAC implementation in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) does not properly verify privileges for support-bundle downloads, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a download action, as demonstrated by obtaining read access to the user database, aka Bug ID CSCuj39274.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6695 resides within the Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) mechanism of Cisco Secure Access Control System version 5.2.0.41 and earlier releases. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security model designed to protect sensitive administrative resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the support-bundle download functionality, which should normally be restricted to authorized administrative personnel with appropriate clearance levels. However, the flawed RBAC implementation fails to properly validate user privileges before permitting access to these sensitive operational resources, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted download action that circumvents the intended access controls. When authenticated users attempt to download support bundles, the system should verify their role permissions against a predefined set of privileges that determine what system information they are authorized to access. In this case, the verification process is insufficient, allowing attackers to escalate their privileges and gain access to read operations on the user database. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to resources necessary for their specific roles. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic flaw in access control validation, where the system fails to properly enforce authorization boundaries during critical operational functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with read access to the entire user database, potentially exposing sensitive authentication credentials, user permissions, and system configuration details. This access could enable attackers to perform additional attacks such as credential harvesting, privilege escalation to other system components, or social engineering campaigns using collected user information. The vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the Cisco Secure Access Control System, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire access control infrastructure. Organizations relying on this system for network security could face significant operational disruptions and compliance violations, as the exposure of user databases may violate various regulatory requirements including pci dss, hipaa, and soc 2 standards. The attack vector requires only remote authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external network locations without requiring physical access or advanced exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching of affected Cisco Secure Access Control System installations to version 5.2.0.42 or later, which contains the necessary RBAC implementation fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative functions and reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unauthorized support-bundle download attempts and implementing stricter logging of administrative activities to detect anomalous behavior patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that privilege assignments align with the principle of least privilege and that no unnecessary administrative access exists within the system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation, highlighting the need for robust identity and access management controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security assessments to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure.