CVE-2014-3342 in IOS XR
Summary
by MITRE
The CLI in Cisco IOS XR allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified commands, aka Bug IDs CSCuq42336, CSCuq76853, CSCuq76873, and CSCuq45383.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3342 affects Cisco IOS XR operating system and represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the command line interface. This vulnerability impacts the core operational security of network devices running IOS XR software, where authenticated attackers can exploit unspecified commands to extract sensitive information from the system. The issue manifests through multiple bug identifiers including CSCuq42336, CSCuq76853, CSCuq76873, and CSCuq45383, indicating that the flaw exists across several related components of the IOS XR platform. The vulnerability specifically resides in the CLI functionality that governs how the system processes and responds to user commands, creating an attack surface that can be leveraged by malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials.
This security weakness fundamentally stems from inadequate input validation and output handling within the CLI subsystem of IOS XR devices. The unspecified nature of the commands suggests that the vulnerability operates through multiple attack vectors within the command processing pipeline, potentially affecting various operational commands that interact with system internals. The flaw allows remote authenticated users to access information that should remain restricted, potentially including configuration data, system logs, user credentials, or other sensitive operational details. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) indicates that it enables unauthorized information disclosure without requiring privileged access beyond authentication. From an operational perspective, this weakness undermines the principle of least privilege and can lead to comprehensive reconnaissance activities that enable more sophisticated attacks against the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3342 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data can provide attackers with valuable insights for subsequent attacks. Network administrators who rely on IOS XR devices for critical infrastructure operations face significant risks when this vulnerability exists, as attackers can gather intelligence about system configurations, user accounts, and operational procedures. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, provided they have valid authentication credentials. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the Information Gathering phase, specifically within the T1087 (Account Discovery) and T1069 (Permission Groups) techniques. The vulnerability's potential to expose system internals can facilitate privilege escalation attempts and enable attackers to map network topologies, identify security controls, and develop more targeted attack strategies. Organizations running IOS XR devices are particularly vulnerable as this flaw affects the fundamental command processing mechanisms that control access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3342 should prioritize immediate software updates from Cisco, specifically addressing the identified bug IDs through official patches and security releases. Network administrators must ensure that all IOS XR devices are updated to versions that resolve the CLI information disclosure vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls, monitoring CLI usage patterns for anomalous behavior, and conducting regular security audits of device configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation where users are granted only necessary permissions to perform their duties. Organizations should also establish robust network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and implement comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized information access attempts. The security community should treat this vulnerability as a critical threat requiring immediate attention, particularly in environments where network devices are exposed to untrusted networks or where authentication credentials might be compromised through other attack vectors.