CVE-2016-1295 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 8.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an AnyConnect authentication attempt, aka Bug ID CSCuo65775.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
The Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance ASA Software version 8.4 contains a significant information disclosure vulnerability that affects the AnyConnect authentication process. This flaw enables remote attackers to extract sensitive information during authentication attempts, potentially compromising the security posture of organizations relying on Cisco ASA appliances for network protection. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the AnyConnect authentication workflow, where improperly handled session data could reveal confidential information to unauthorized parties. This issue represents a critical weakness in the authentication mechanism that could be exploited without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in network security contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper error handling within the AnyConnect authentication subsystem of the ASA software. When an authentication attempt is made, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict the information flow during the authentication handshake process. This allows malicious actors to craft specific requests that trigger the disclosure of sensitive data including but not limited to session identifiers, user credentials, or system configuration details. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust model of the authentication process, making it difficult to detect and prevent through conventional network monitoring techniques. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200: Information Exposure, which encompasses any situation where information is disclosed to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for further exploitation and lateral movement within compromised networks. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain intelligence about network topology, user authentication patterns, and system configurations that would significantly aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that adversaries can target vulnerable ASA appliances from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local network presence. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001: Account Discovery, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to account-related information. Organizations may experience cascading security failures if attackers use the disclosed information to conduct credential stuffing attacks against other systems or to identify additional vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by Cisco to address the specific flaw in ASA Software 8.4. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The configuration of proper access controls and network segmentation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected ASA software versions and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems with signatures specifically targeting this vulnerability can provide early warning capabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to avoid potential service disruptions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network security appliances and ensure overall network security posture remains robust against evolving threat landscape.