CVE-2016-1443 in AMP Threat Grid Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The virtual network stack on Cisco AMP Threat Grid Appliance devices before 2.1.1 allows remote attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism, and consequently obtain sensitive interprocess information or modify interprocess data, via a crafted malware sample.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1443 affects Cisco AMP Threat Grid Appliance devices running firmware versions prior to 2.1.1, representing a critical security flaw in the virtual network stack implementation. This vulnerability resides within the appliance's sandboxing architecture, which is designed to isolate and analyze potentially malicious software samples in a controlled environment. The affected devices operate as threat analysis platforms that process suspicious files through virtualized environments to determine their behavior and potential risks to network infrastructure. The flaw specifically targets the interprocess communication mechanisms that are essential for maintaining the security boundaries between different virtualized components within the appliance's architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and isolation within the virtual network stack, allowing remote attackers to craft malicious samples that can exploit weaknesses in the sandbox protection mechanisms. This flaw enables attackers to bypass the intended security boundaries that separate different processes and virtual environments, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive interprocess information. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where the appliance handles incoming malware samples, exploiting gaps in the virtualization layer that should normally prevent direct access to internal process memory or data structures. The attack vector requires remote exploitation without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the threat analysis environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can obtain sensitive information that would normally remain isolated within the appliance's internal processes, including credentials, analysis results, and potentially other malware samples being processed. The ability to modify interprocess data introduces additional risks where attackers could alter analysis results, inject false information, or even manipulate the sandbox environment to evade detection. This compromise directly undermines the core security value proposition of the appliance, as it allows malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the very data and processes designed to remain protected from external interference. The vulnerability effectively renders the sandbox protection mechanisms ineffective, potentially allowing attackers to gain insights into the appliance's operational environment and internal workings.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Cisco AMP Threat Grid Appliance firmware version 2.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the virtual network stack vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of these appliances to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control mechanisms within virtualized environments, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Control, as the compromised appliance could potentially serve as a command and control channel for further attacks. Regular security assessments of virtualized environments and implementation of network-based intrusion detection systems are recommended to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the appliance's architecture.