CVE-2016-1394 in Firepower System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Firepower System Software 6.0.0 through 6.1.0 has a hardcoded account, which allows remote attackers to obtain CLI access by leveraging knowledge of the password, aka Bug ID CSCuz56238.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1394 affects Cisco Firepower System Software versions 6.0.0 through 6.1.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to gain command-line interface access to affected systems. This issue stems from the presence of a hardcoded administrative account within the software implementation, which represents a fundamental breach of secure coding practices and privilege management principles. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows unauthorized access without requiring any authentication credentials beyond knowledge of the predetermined password, making it a significant vector for exploitation in network security contexts.
The technical flaw manifests through the inclusion of a hardcoded account with a known password within the Firepower system software, which violates industry security standards such as those outlined in CWE-259, which addresses the use of hard-coded passwords, and CWE-798, which covers the use of hard-coded credentials. This hardcoded account provides attackers with a direct path to administrative privileges, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application level, affecting the software's authentication and authorization processes, and represents a design flaw that persists across multiple versions of the Firepower software, indicating a systemic security weakness rather than an isolated incident.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected Firepower systems, potentially enabling them to modify firewall rules, access sensitive network traffic, disable security features, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This compromise directly affects the CIA triad, specifically undermining confidentiality by allowing unauthorized data access, integrity by enabling unauthorized modifications to security policies, and availability through potential disruption of network services. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Firepower systems serve as critical network security appliances, as it could lead to complete network infiltration and data exfiltration capabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Cisco Firepower System Software, disabling or removing the hardcoded account if possible, and implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The remediation process should follow established security protocols and vulnerability management frameworks, with particular attention to the ATT&CK framework's T1078.004 technique for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential access through network service protocols. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive audits of all network security appliances to identify similar hardcoded credentials, as this represents a broader class of vulnerabilities that could exist in other network devices and software systems. Regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices, including the principle of least privilege and proper credential management, are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments.