CVE-2016-1457 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
The web-based GUI in Cisco Firepower Management Center 4.x and 5.x before 5.3.1.2 and 5.4.x before 5.4.0.1 and Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software on 5500-X devices with FirePOWER Services 4.x and 5.x before 5.3.1.2 and 5.4.x before 5.4.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands as root via crafted HTTP requests, aka Bug ID CSCur25513.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-1457 represents a critical remote command execution flaw affecting Cisco Firepower Management Center and Adaptive Security Appliance devices. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the web-based graphical user interface of these security appliances, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions including Firepower Management Center 4.x and 5.x prior to 5.3.1.2 and 5.4.x prior to 5.4.0.1, as well as ASA 5500-X devices running FirePOWER Services 4.x and 5.x before the specified patch levels. The flaw specifically manifests through crafted HTTP requests that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors who have already established legitimate access to the system to escalate their privileges and gain complete control over the underlying operating system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-20 categories, representing a command injection flaw that occurs when user-supplied data is improperly validated and directly incorporated into system commands without adequate sanitization. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and command and control tactics, where attackers can leverage initial access to execute malicious payloads with elevated privileges. The flaw exploits the trust relationship between the web interface and the underlying operating system, where legitimate administrative functions are exposed through HTTP endpoints without proper input sanitization. Attackers can craft specific HTTP requests that contain malicious payloads designed to manipulate the command execution flow, ultimately leading to root-level access and complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1457 is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Cisco security appliances for network protection. Once exploited, the vulnerability provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected devices, enabling them to modify firewall rules, disable security features, exfiltrate sensitive network data, and establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This compromise can lead to significant data breaches, unauthorized network access, and the potential for lateral movement throughout the enterprise network. The vulnerability affects critical security infrastructure components that serve as network perimeters and traffic inspection points, making the impact particularly devastating for organizations that depend on these devices for their primary security posture. Organizations may experience service disruptions, regulatory compliance violations, and substantial financial losses due to the breach of security controls that these devices are designed to protect.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1457 primarily focus on implementing the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should immediately upgrade their Firepower Management Center and ASA 5500-X devices to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 5.3.1.2 and 5.4.0.1 respectively. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the web-based management interfaces. Regular security audits and monitoring of web interface access logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems with signatures specific to this vulnerability can help identify and block malicious HTTP requests. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when not actively required and implement multi-factor authentication for administrative access to further reduce the risk of unauthorized exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in network infrastructure components.