CVE-2016-1345 in IDS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco FireSIGHT System Software 5.4.0 through 6.0.1 and ASA with FirePOWER Services 5.4.0 through 6.0.0.1 allow remote attackers to bypass malware protection via crafted fields in HTTP headers, aka Bug ID CSCux22726.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1345 affects Cisco FireSIGHT System Software versions 5.4.0 through 6.0.1 and ASA with FirePOWER Services versions 5.4.0 through 6.0.0.1, representing a critical flaw in network security protection mechanisms. This issue enables remote attackers to circumvent malware detection capabilities by exploiting specifically crafted fields within HTTP headers, effectively undermining the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, targeting the inspection and filtering mechanisms that are fundamental to modern intrusion prevention systems.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation and processing of HTTP header fields within the FireSIGHT system's malware protection engine. When the system encounters crafted HTTP headers containing maliciously constructed field values, the inspection process fails to properly analyze or block the potentially harmful content. This weakness allows attackers to craft HTTP requests that bypass the normal security inspection procedures, enabling the delivery of malware or other malicious payloads that would otherwise be detected and blocked by the system's signature-based and behavioral analysis mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP header parsing logic, which is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and CWE-129 as "Improper Validation of Array Index."
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Cisco FireSIGHT and FirePOWER services for network security protection. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to deliver malware, establish command and control communications, or perform other malicious activities without detection by the system's security mechanisms. This creates a significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and persistent threats within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network security is paramount. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as it enables attackers to bypass defenses and execute malicious commands through web-based channels.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect anomalous HTTP header patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The security configuration should include enhanced HTTP header validation rules and increased inspection depth for suspicious traffic patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this type of bypass attack. Network segmentation and defense-in-depth strategies should be reinforced to minimize the impact should the vulnerability be successfully exploited, as the flaw essentially creates a backdoor for malware delivery that bypasses normal security controls.