CVE-2016-1441 in Cloud Network Automation Provisioner
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Cloud Network Automation Provisioner (CNAP) 1.0(0) in Cisco Configuration Assistant (CCA) allows remote attackers to bypass intended filesystem and administrative-endpoint restrictions via GET API calls, aka Bug ID CSCuy77145.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2026
The vulnerability in Cisco Cloud Network Automation Provisioner version 1.0(0) within Cisco Configuration Assistant represents a critical access control flaw that enables remote attackers to circumvent intended security boundaries. This issue stems from insufficient validation of API requests and inadequate authorization checks within the system's provisioning framework. The vulnerability specifically affects the GET API endpoints that handle filesystem and administrative operations, allowing unauthorized parties to access restricted resources and execute privileged actions without proper authentication or authorization. The flaw exists in the application's request processing logic where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious manipulation of API parameters that should otherwise be restricted to authorized administrative users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and privilege escalation scenario where the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before processing API requests. Attackers can craft malicious GET requests that exploit the lack of proper access controls to navigate the filesystem and access administrative endpoints that should remain protected. This misconfiguration allows for unauthorized data access, system enumeration, and potential full administrative control over the affected provisioning environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the API level, meaning that successful exploitation can occur without requiring direct system access or complex attack vectors.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Cisco CNA for network automation and provisioning tasks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data, system files, and administrative functions that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential disruption of network services, unauthorized configuration changes, and possible lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations using this provisioning system may experience unauthorized access to critical network automation workflows, potentially leading to service degradation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the provisioning system and undermines the security posture of the entire network automation environment.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper API request validation, enforcing strict access controls, and applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco. Organizations should immediately deploy the vendor-supplied fixes and ensure that all API endpoints properly validate input parameters and enforce authentication requirements. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized API access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues, and follows ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through API exploitation. Regular security assessments should verify that API endpoints properly enforce access controls and that no unauthorized paths exist within the provisioning system's interface. System administrators should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of API activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails of all administrative operations.