CVE-2014-8017 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE
The periodic-backup feature in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) allows remote attackers to discover backup-encryption passwords via a crafted request that triggers inclusion of a password in a reply, aka Bug ID CSCur41673.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8017 affects Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and represents a critical security flaw in the periodic-backup feature implementation. This vulnerability exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improper error handling mechanisms within the backup encryption process, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco ISE for network access control and identity management. The issue stems from the system's failure to properly sanitize responses when processing backup requests, inadvertently revealing encryption passwords in system replies.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specifically crafted request that triggers the periodic-backup functionality in Cisco ISE. When such a request is processed, the system fails to properly validate or filter the response content, causing it to include sensitive backup encryption passwords in the reply packet. This flaw falls under CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to CWE-312, which covers exposure of sensitive data through data fragments. The vulnerability exists in the request processing pipeline where authentication credentials are not adequately protected during the backup operation, creating a direct information disclosure channel.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8017 is severe for organizations utilizing Cisco ISE in enterprise network environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to backup encryption passwords that can be used to decrypt backup files, potentially compromising the entire identity management infrastructure. This exposure undermines the confidentiality of network access control policies and user authentication data, as backup files often contain sensitive information about user accounts, network policies, and access control rules. The vulnerability also enables potential attackers to perform unauthorized restoration of backup configurations, which could lead to privilege escalation and persistent access to the network infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. The disclosure of backup encryption passwords represents a credential access technique that can be leveraged to gain deeper system access and maintain persistence within the network environment. Organizations may find that this vulnerability enables attackers to bypass traditional network security controls by restoring compromised configurations or accessing previously encrypted sensitive data. The issue also falls under privilege escalation categories when attackers use the exposed credentials to restore system configurations with elevated privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the improper response handling in the periodic-backup feature. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the ISE management interfaces, and access controls should be strictly enforced using role-based access controls to minimize the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should monitor network traffic for unusual backup request patterns and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed requests targeting the backup functionality. Regular security assessments should verify that backup encryption passwords are properly protected and that no unauthorized access attempts have occurred. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in network security appliances, particularly when handling sensitive authentication credentials during backup operations.