CVE-2016-1365 in APIC-EM
Summary
by MITRE
The Grapevine update process in Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module (APIC-EM) 1.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands as root via a crafted upgrade parameter, aka Bug ID CSCux15507.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1365 affects the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module version 1.0, specifically within its Grapevine update process. This critical security flaw represents a command injection vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the upgrade parameter handling mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious command execution that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the software update process where the Grapevine component fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied parameters. When an authenticated user submits a crafted upgrade parameter containing malicious commands, the system processes these inputs without adequate filtering, allowing the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code with the highest level of system privileges. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89, where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with legitimate access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the APIC-EM system and potentially the entire network infrastructure it manages. Since APIC-EM serves as a central policy controller for network applications, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized network configuration changes, data exfiltration, or complete network disruption. The vulnerability affects the enterprise module's ability to maintain secure update processes, creating a persistent backdoor that could remain undetected for extended periods. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant threat to network security operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Cisco security patches, disabling unnecessary update functionality, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the APIC-EM system. Access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication and principle of least privilege enforcement. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual upgrade activities or command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in update and administrative processes, as highlighted in industry best practices for secure software development. Regular security assessments of enterprise network management systems are essential to identify similar weaknesses in other components that may provide similar attack pathways.