CVE-2015-8236 in EOS
Summary
by MITRE
Arista EOS before 4.11.12, 4.12 before 4.12.11, 4.13 before 4.13.14M, 4.14 before 4.14.5FX.5, and 4.15 before 4.15.0FX1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by leveraging management-plane access, aka Bug 138716.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8236 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Arista EOS networking operating systems across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability specifically affects devices running Arista EOS software versions prior to the listed patched releases, creating a significant security risk for network infrastructure deployments. The flaw resides in the management plane access controls and allows attackers with network-level access to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that can compromise the entire network device and potentially provide attackers with complete control over the affected infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the management plane of Arista EOS devices. Attackers can exploit this flaw by leveraging legitimate management plane access to manipulate system processes and gain root privileges without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically targets the privilege escalation mechanisms that should normally prevent unauthorized code execution, allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls that are fundamental to network device integrity. This flaw operates at the system level and can be exploited through network-based attacks that do not require physical access to the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8236 is devastating for organizations relying on Arista networking equipment, as it enables complete compromise of affected devices. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with root privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network disruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and the ability to establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects network availability and integrity, as compromised devices can be used as staging points for further attacks against other network segments. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption, compliance violations, and potential regulatory penalties due to the exposure of critical network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected Arista EOS devices to the specified patched versions. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit management plane access to trusted administrative networks only. Regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring should be conducted to identify potentially affected devices within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also implement network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both network access restrictions and privilege management.