CVE-2014-0667 in Secure Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE
The RMI interface in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) does not properly enforce authorization requirements, which allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a request to this interface, aka Bug ID CSCud75169.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0667 resides within the Remote Method Invocation (RMI) interface of Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS), a critical network security platform designed to manage and control access to enterprise networks. This flaw represents a significant authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the RMI interface implementation within Cisco ACS, which is responsible for facilitating remote administrative operations and system management functions. The bug ID CSCud75169 categorizes this issue as a remote code execution and privilege escalation vulnerability that has far-reaching implications for network security infrastructure. The flaw exists in the authorization enforcement mechanisms that govern access to sensitive system resources through the RMI protocol.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authorization requirements within the RMI interface implementation. When authenticated users make requests to this interface, the system fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to access the targeted resources. This authorization gap allows remote authenticated attackers to craft malicious requests that can traverse the system's security boundaries and access arbitrary files that should normally be restricted. The vulnerability manifests through a specific request pattern that bypasses the normal access control checks, enabling attackers to read files from the system that contain sensitive configuration data, credentials, or other privileged information. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, specifically addressing inadequate authorization enforcement mechanisms in network services.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0667 is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on Cisco ACS for their network access control and authentication services. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the access control system, enabling attackers to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, system configurations, and authentication data that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire access control infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to protected network resources. Organizations may experience significant disruption to their security posture, as the compromised system can no longer be trusted to properly enforce access controls. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where network access control is critical for maintaining security boundaries and protecting sensitive assets from unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0667 should include immediate implementation of Cisco's official security patches and updates that address the authorization enforcement flaws in the RMI interface. Network administrators should also implement additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalous requests to the RMI interface. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting access to the RMI interface to only authorized administrative users and systems. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Cisco ACS deployments to identify and remediate similar authorization gaps in other system components. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the RMI interface from untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization validation in distributed systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to exploit this interface. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components.