CVE-2015-6314 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) devices with software 7.6.x, 8.0 before 8.0.121.0, and 8.1 before 8.1.131.0 allow remote attackers to change configuration settings via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCuw06153.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6314 affects Cisco Wireless LAN Controller devices operating within specific software versions, presenting a significant security risk that enables remote attackers to manipulate critical configuration parameters. This flaw exists in software releases 7.6.x, 8.0 prior to 8.0.121.0, and 8.1 prior to 8.1.131.0, making it a widespread issue across multiple generations of Cisco's wireless infrastructure solutions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-269, which represents improper privilege management, indicating that the affected systems fail to properly enforce access controls for administrative functions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the WLC software implementation. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to modify configuration settings remotely, potentially compromising the entire wireless network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows unauthorized modification of system parameters that could lead to complete network compromise. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may be present in multiple operational interfaces or communication protocols within the WLC software stack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it can enable attackers to fundamentally alter wireless network policies, disable security features, modify user access controls, and potentially redirect network traffic. Organizations relying on Cisco WLC devices for wireless network management face severe risks including unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and complete loss of wireless network control. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices, making the attack surface significantly broader than traditional network security threats.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates to the patched versions mentioned in the CVE description, specifically versions 8.0.121.0 and 8.1.131.0. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as network segmentation, enhanced monitoring of configuration change logs, and strict access controls for administrative interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date network infrastructure software and highlights the necessity of regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious configuration changes that may indicate exploitation attempts.