CVE-2014-0730 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Central Software 1.1 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via a CLI copy command in a local-mgmt context, aka Bug ID CSCul53128.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0730 affects Cisco Unified Computing System UCS Central Software version 1.1 and earlier, representing a significant local privilege escalation flaw that could be exploited by malicious actors within the local management context. This vulnerability resides in the command line interface functionality of the software, specifically within the copy command implementation. The issue manifests when local users execute certain copy commands while operating within a local-mgmt context, potentially allowing them to elevate their privileges beyond the intended scope of their current access level.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege management within the CLI subsystem of the UCS Central software. When users execute copy commands in the local-mgmt context, the system fails to properly validate the parameters passed to the copy function, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation. This flaw operates under the principle of insufficient validation of privileges, which is categorized under CWE-264 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the existing local management access, meaning that an attacker who already has access to the system can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional authentication or external attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to organizations relying on Cisco UCS Central for their data center management. The local privilege escalation capability allows attackers who have gained initial access through other means to potentially gain administrative control over the UCS Central management system. This could lead to complete compromise of the data center infrastructure management capabilities, enabling unauthorized configuration changes, access to sensitive operational data, and potential disruption of critical business services. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the management plane, as it could allow attackers to manipulate the system's operational parameters and access privileged information that should remain restricted to authorized administrators.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting local system privileges and command execution within management contexts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for UCS Central Software, which would address the privilege escalation flaw in the CLI copy command implementation. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict local management access to only essential personnel, implement proper access controls, and monitor for suspicious command execution patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous CLI usage patterns, particularly around copy commands executed in local-mgmt contexts, as this would provide early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar privilege escalation flaws in management interfaces.