CVE-2015-6345 in Secure Access Control Server
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Solution Engine in Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) 5.7(0.15) allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuw24700.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6345 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Secure Access Control Server version 5.7(015) that affects the Solution Engine component. This vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Cisco ACS platform, which serves as a central component for network access control and user authentication in enterprise environments. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system by crafting malicious URLs that trigger unauthorized SQL command execution. This represents a significant threat to network security infrastructure since the Cisco ACS serves as a critical access control point for enterprise networks, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to network resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Solution Engine's URL processing mechanism. When authenticated users submit crafted URLs to the ACS server, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that can manipulate the underlying database operations. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-89 SQL Injection weakness, specifically categorized under CWE-352 Cross-Site Request Forgery in the context of database operations, where the authentication context enables the attack to bypass normal access controls. The flaw operates at the application layer, exploiting the trust relationship between the authenticated user and the server, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only legitimate authentication credentials to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the database user account. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive user credentials, access control lists, authentication records, and other critical network infrastructure data. The implications for enterprise security are severe since the Cisco ACS serves as a central repository for authentication and authorization data, potentially providing attackers with access to network resources, user accounts, and privileged administrative functions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as attackers could leverage compromised user accounts to execute database commands, and T1046 Network Service Scanning, as the attack vector involves exploiting network services to gain unauthorized access to database resources. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK tactic TA0006 Credential Access, as successful exploitation could lead to credential theft and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6345 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Cisco's official security advisories, as the vendor has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the ACS server, reducing the attack surface and containing potential exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious URL patterns, establishing strict input validation policies, and monitoring database access logs for suspicious SQL command execution patterns. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting the Solution Engine and related components, while implementing principle of least privilege for database accounts to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper sanitization in database-facing applications, emphasizing the need for robust application security testing and continuous monitoring of authentication and authorization systems. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and additional access controls to reduce the impact of credential compromise, as this vulnerability specifically leverages authenticated access to enable exploitation.