CVE-2015-6316 in Mobility Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of sshd_config in Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE) through 8.0.120.7 allows logins by the oracle account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by entering this account's hardcoded password in an SSH session, aka Bug ID CSCuv40501.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6316 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within Cisco Mobility Services Engine (MSE) devices running versions through 8.0.120.7. This flaw resides in the default sshd_config file configuration which inadvertently permits authentication attempts using the oracle account, a privilege account typically associated with database management systems. The security risk emerges from the fact that this account possesses a hardcoded password that remains unchanged from the default installation, creating an obvious and well-documented attack vector for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Cisco's default security posture in the MSE device configuration where the oracle account is enabled for SSH access without proper password restrictions or account disabling mechanisms. This misconfiguration directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and default deny, as the system provides a readily available account with a known password that should never be accessible via remote protocols. The hardcoded nature of the password means that any attacker with knowledge of this default credential can establish an SSH session and gain access to the system without requiring additional reconnaissance or exploitation techniques.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations deploying Cisco MSE devices in their network infrastructure, particularly in environments where these devices handle sensitive mobility data and network management functions. The ease of exploitation means that remote attackers can bypass traditional authentication barriers and gain administrative access to the MSE, potentially leading to complete network compromise. Once an attacker establishes access through the oracle account, they can manipulate mobility services, access network configuration data, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. This vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting default credentials and weak account management practices.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate unauthorized access as it represents a fundamental failure in security hardening practices that should be implemented during initial device deployment. Organizations utilizing MSE devices should immediately disable unused accounts, implement proper password policies, and ensure that default configurations are hardened before placing devices in production environments. This issue aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and CWE-255, which covers weak account management. Security administrators must conduct regular configuration audits to identify and remediate similar issues across their network infrastructure, particularly in devices where default configurations may expose system accounts with known credentials. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of implementing proper security hardening procedures and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration oversights can create significant security exposures in enterprise network infrastructure.