CVE-2015-4302 in FireSIGHT Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center 5.3.1.4 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary system policies via modified parameters in a POST request, aka Bug ID CSCuu25390.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4302 affects the web interface of Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center version 5.3.1.4, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate system policies through crafted POST requests. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the web application's policy management functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized deletion of critical system policies without proper authentication or authorization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of parameters within HTTP POST requests sent to the FireSIGHT Management Center web interface. Attackers can construct malicious requests that modify system parameters to target and delete arbitrary policies, bypassing the normal authentication and authorization mechanisms that should protect these critical system components. The vulnerability specifically targets the policy management subsystem where the application fails to properly validate user input or verify that the requesting entity has appropriate privileges to perform deletion operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security infrastructure as it allows attackers to remove critical security policies that govern network traffic filtering, intrusion prevention rules, and other essential security controls. The impact extends beyond simple policy deletion since these policies often contain configurations that protect against specific threats, enforce access controls, and maintain network integrity. Once compromised, the system becomes vulnerable to various attack vectors that could result in complete network compromise, data exfiltration, or unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1495 for virtualization and container abuse. Organizations utilizing Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the management interface, and configuring additional authentication controls. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious policy modification activities and implementing robust network access controls around the management interface can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security assessments of the affected system to ensure no other unauthorized modifications have occurred.