CVE-2015-6355 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) 2.2(5b)A on blade servers allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive version information by visiting an unspecified URL, aka Bug ID CSCuw87226.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-6355 represents a significant information disclosure issue within Cisco Unified Computing System version 2.2(5b)A running on blade servers. This flaw exists in the web interface component of the UCS platform, which serves as the primary management interface for configuring and monitoring Cisco's unified computing infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically allows remote attackers to extract sensitive version information by accessing an unspecified URL within the web interface, creating an attack surface that could be exploited for further reconnaissance activities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which defines information disclosure weaknesses in software systems. The flaw essentially represents an improper restriction of information exposure, where the web interface fails to adequately control access to version-specific details that should remain protected from unauthorized users. This type of information disclosure can provide attackers with critical insights into the system's configuration and software versions, which are essential components for planning more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under the reconnaissance phase, specifically T1069.001 for "Permission Groups Discovery" and T1082 for "System Information Discovery," as it enables adversaries to gather system metadata that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or targeted exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with precise version information that could be used to identify known vulnerabilities within the specific UCS release. The version information obtained through this flaw could reveal whether the system is running patched or unpatched software, potentially exposing it to known exploits that target specific version ranges. This information disclosure could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple systems are managed through the same UCS infrastructure, as it could enable attackers to map out the entire computing environment and identify potential targets for lateral movement.
Organizations implementing Cisco UCS solutions must understand that this vulnerability represents a fundamental security gap in their management interface design. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or network-level privileges to exploit this flaw, making it particularly concerning for environments with exposed management interfaces. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the web interface, which is typically accessible from various network locations and may be exposed to external networks without proper security controls. This makes the system particularly vulnerable to automated scanning and exploitation by threat actors who continuously monitor for such information disclosure vulnerabilities in enterprise infrastructure.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2015-6355 primarily focus on implementing proper access controls and network segmentation for the UCS management interface. Organizations should ensure that the web interface is not exposed to untrusted networks and that appropriate authentication mechanisms are in place to restrict access to authorized personnel only. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should immediately apply the relevant security updates to their UCS systems. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to management interfaces can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security controls and internal network segmentation to limit the potential impact of information disclosure vulnerabilities.