CVE-2015-6419 in FireSIGHT Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center with software 4.10.3, 5.2.0, 5.3.0, 5.3.1, and 5.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a crafted GET request, aka Bug ID CSCur25410.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6419 affects Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center versions 4.10.3, 5.2.0, 5.3.0, 5.3.1, and 5.4.0, representing a critical path traversal flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web interface of the FireSIGHT management console, specifically in how the application processes GET requests containing crafted file paths. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with valid credentials to manipulate the file path parameter and retrieve sensitive files from the underlying operating system, potentially exposing system configuration data, user credentials, or other confidential information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid login credentials for the FireSIGHT management center could leverage this weakness to access unauthorized data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The FireSIGHT management center fails to properly sanitize user input in file access operations, allowing attackers to manipulate the requested file path through directory navigation sequences such as "../" or similar constructs. This weakness enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files outside of the intended directory structure, potentially reaching system-critical files such as configuration files, database files, or even system binaries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and does not require special privileges beyond valid authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is granted to multiple users or where credentials might be compromised through social engineering or other means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the ability to read arbitrary files can lead to comprehensive system reconnaissance and potentially facilitate further exploitation. Attackers could access database files containing user credentials, configuration files that reveal system architecture, or even backup files that might contain sensitive information. The vulnerability affects organizations using Cisco FireSIGHT Management Center deployments, which are typically implemented in enterprise security environments where the management center serves as the central point for configuring and monitoring security policies across network infrastructure. This makes the impact particularly severe as it could compromise the entire security monitoring infrastructure and provide attackers with insights into network security configurations, firewall rules, and intrusion detection signatures that are actively protecting the organization.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the path traversal flaw through proper input validation and sanitization of file path parameters. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit access to the FireSIGHT management center to only authorized personnel with legitimate business need. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their FireSIGHT deployments to identify any unauthorized access or unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper access controls in security-critical applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as attackers could use this vulnerability to enumerate system files and directories. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other network management systems and ensure that all security controls are properly configured to prevent unauthorized file access.