CVE-2016-1302 in Application Policy Infrastructure Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) devices with software before 1.0(3h) and 1.1 before 1.1(1j) and Nexus 9000 ACI Mode switches with software before 11.0(3h) and 11.1 before 11.1(1j) allow remote authenticated users to bypass intended RBAC restrictions via crafted REST requests, aka Bug ID CSCut12998.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1302 affects Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller devices and Nexus 9000 ACI Mode switches, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the intended role-based access control mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the REST API implementation of Cisco's Application-Centric Infrastructure (ACI) platform, where authenticated users can manipulate request parameters to access resources beyond their designated permissions. The flaw specifically impacts software versions prior to 1.0(3h) and 1.1(1j) for APIC devices, and before 11.0(3h) and 11.1(1j) for Nexus 9000 switches, making a substantial portion of deployed ACI infrastructure susceptible to exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the REST API processing layer. Attackers can craft specially formatted REST requests that manipulate authentication tokens or request parameters to gain access to administrative functions, configuration data, or network policies that should be restricted to privileged users only. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where legitimate authenticated users can leverage their existing session to bypass the normal access control boundaries that separate different user roles within the ACI fabric. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires only authentication credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by users who already have legitimate access to the system but should not possess elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to manipulate core network policies and configurations that govern the entire ACI fabric. An attacker with access to a low-privilege account could potentially modify routing policies, access sensitive network data, or even disable critical network functions that would require administrative privileges to perform normally. This capability directly violates the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure network design and can lead to complete compromise of the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core ACI management plane, potentially enabling attackers to gain insights into network topology, access sensitive configuration information, and manipulate network behavior in ways that could disrupt services or enable further attacks on connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1302 should prioritize immediate software upgrades to the patched versions of Cisco ACI software, specifically targeting releases 1.0(3h) and 1.1(1j) for APIC devices and 11.0(3h) and 11.1(1j) for Nexus 9000 switches. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that administrative functions are not accessible from untrusted networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for domain policy manipulation. Additional defensive measures include monitoring REST API access logs for anomalous request patterns, implementing stricter authentication controls, and conducting regular security assessments of ACI configurations to identify and remediate similar authorization bypass opportunities that may exist within the broader network infrastructure.