CVE-2016-1386 in Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module
Summary
by MITRE
The API in Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module (APIC-EM) 1.0(1) allows remote attackers to spoof administrative notifications via crafted attribute-value pairs, aka Bug ID CSCux15521.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1386 affects the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module version 1.0(1) and represents a significant security flaw in the API implementation that governs administrative notification handling. This issue enables remote attackers to manipulate the system by crafting malicious attribute-value pairs that can deceive the notification system into displaying false administrative alerts. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters within the API interface, specifically in how the system processes and interprets notification attributes. The flaw allows adversaries to potentially manipulate the integrity of administrative communications, which could lead to confusion among system administrators and potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. The bug identifier CSCux15521 further emphasizes the severity of this issue within Cisco's internal tracking systems, indicating that it was recognized as a critical concern requiring immediate attention.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the API layer where administrative notifications are processed and transmitted throughout the APIC-EM system. When the API receives attribute-value pairs in notification requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into system alerts. This lack of input validation creates a path for attackers to inject malicious data that can alter the content or appearance of administrative notifications. The flaw operates by exploiting the trust model inherent in the system's notification handling, where legitimate administrative alerts are expected to originate from authorized sources. Attackers can leverage this weakness to craft notifications that appear to come from trusted administrative sources while containing misleading or malicious information, potentially causing system administrators to take inappropriate actions based on false information.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1386 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the trustworthiness of administrative communications within the APIC-EM environment. System administrators rely on accurate notifications to maintain network security and respond to potential threats effectively. When these notifications can be spoofed, it creates a dangerous situation where legitimate security alerts may be obscured by fabricated ones, or where malicious actors can use the spoofing capability to mislead administrators about actual security incidents. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network administrators depend on accurate information to make critical security decisions. The ability to manipulate administrative notifications also opens the door to potential privilege escalation attacks, as attackers might use the spoofed notifications to confuse administrators into performing actions that could compromise system security. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1386 should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the API layer and strengthening the authentication and integrity checking of administrative notifications. Organizations should apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability, as the company likely released a fix that includes enhanced validation of attribute-value pairs in notification requests. Network segmentation and monitoring of API traffic can help detect anomalous notification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and ensuring that only authorized systems can submit administrative notifications can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating all inputs at the API boundary and implementing proper cryptographic integrity checks for administrative communications, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Regular security audits of API implementations should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses that could be exploited in similar systems.