CVE-2015-4263 in Mobility Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The Control and Provisioning functionality in Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE) 10.0(0.1) allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading log files, aka Bug ID CSCut36851.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4263 affects Cisco Mobility Services Engine version 10.0(0.1) and resides within its Control and Provisioning functionality. This issue represents a critical information disclosure flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to access sensitive system data through log file enumeration. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper privilege management within the MSE's logging mechanisms, allowing attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their access to potentially sensitive operational data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exposure of log files that contain sensitive information such as user credentials, system configurations, network topology details, and operational parameters. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging their authenticated session to traverse the system's file structure and access log files that should remain restricted to authorized administrative personnel. The flaw specifically relates to the lack of proper authorization checks when accessing log file resources, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying Cisco MSE solutions in enterprise environments. The disclosure of sensitive information through log files can lead to comprehensive reconnaissance of network infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to identify vulnerable systems, understand network architecture, and gather intelligence for subsequent attacks. The compromised data may include administrative credentials, device configurations, user activity logs, and other operational details that could facilitate lateral movement within the network or support more sophisticated attack vectors.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-200 weakness category, which encompasses information exposure through improper access control. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under initial access and credential access tactics, as attackers can leverage authenticated sessions to gain access to sensitive information that could then be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient logging security controls that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4263 should include immediate implementation of access control restrictions on log file directories, regular monitoring of file access patterns for unauthorized attempts, and application of Cisco's official security patches and updates. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to MSE systems, enforce strict authentication requirements, and conduct regular security audits of log file access controls. The remediation process must include thorough testing of access control mechanisms to ensure that only authorized administrative users can access sensitive log files while maintaining proper audit trails for security monitoring purposes.