CVE-2014-0656 in Context Directory Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Context Directory Agent (CDA) allows remote authenticated users to trigger the omission of certain user-interface data via crafted field values, aka Bug ID CSCuj45353.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The Cisco Context Directory Agent represents a critical vulnerability classified as CVE-2014-0656, which exposes a significant security flaw in the authentication and data handling mechanisms of Cisco's network infrastructure solutions. This vulnerability specifically affects the Cisco Context Directory Agent software component that serves as a bridge between network devices and directory services, facilitating user authentication and authorization processes within enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when authenticated remote users manipulate specific field values in data submissions, leading to the deliberate omission of crucial user-interface data elements. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of input validation and user interface rendering processes, creating a potential pathway for attackers to manipulate the presentation layer of network management interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the improper handling of crafted field values within the CDA's data processing pipeline, where the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize user inputs before rendering them in the user interface. This weakness creates a condition where malicious actors can submit specially crafted data that triggers the system to exclude certain UI elements from display, potentially obscuring critical information or functionality. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-215, which covers the exposure of sensitive information through improper error handling. Attackers leveraging this flaw can manipulate the UI rendering process to hide important data fields, potentially concealing security alerts, configuration settings, or administrative controls that would normally be visible to legitimate users.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0656 extends beyond simple data presentation issues, as it can significantly compromise the integrity of network management and security monitoring processes. When user-interface data elements are omitted due to crafted field values, administrators may lose visibility into critical system information, potentially masking security incidents or misconfigurations that require immediate attention. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise networks that rely heavily on Cisco's Context Directory Agent for user authentication and access control, as it can undermine the effectiveness of security monitoring tools and administrative interfaces. The implications are especially severe in environments where network administrators depend on comprehensive UI displays for system oversight, as the omission of critical data fields could delay incident response or mask unauthorized access attempts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which typically address the input validation flaws in the CDA component. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous data submission patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while conducting regular security assessments of their directory services infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and UI rendering validation in network management systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can detect and respond to cases where user interface data is deliberately obscured, as this could be an indicator of broader compromise attempts within the network infrastructure.