CVE-2016-6373 in Cloud Services Platform 2100
Summary
by MITRE
The web-based GUI in Cisco Cloud Services Platform (CSP) 2100 2.0 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary OS commands as root via crafted platform commands, aka Bug ID CSCva00541.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6373 affects the Cisco Cloud Services Platform CSP 2100 version 2.0 web-based graphical user interface. This represents a critical privilege escalation and command execution flaw that specifically targets authenticated administrative users within the platform's management interface. The vulnerability resides in how the system processes platform commands through its web GUI, creating a path for maliciously crafted inputs to be interpreted as operating system commands rather than benign interface elements.
This security flaw operates through a command injection mechanism that bypasses normal input validation procedures within the CSP 2100's web administration layer. When authenticated administrators interact with specific platform command interfaces, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied parameters before executing them as system commands. The vulnerability specifically allows for arbitrary OS command execution with root privileges, meaning that any authenticated administrator who can access the affected GUI components can potentially gain complete system control. This represents a severe escalation from standard administrative privileges to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6373 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the underlying operating system and all associated services. The root-level execution capability enables attackers to modify system configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the entire CSP 2100 platform, including its network services, storage management, and virtualization components, making it particularly dangerous for cloud infrastructure deployments.
Organizations utilizing Cisco CSP 2100 version 2.0 should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, restricting administrative access to the web GUI through network segmentation, and implementing strict access controls and monitoring for administrative activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection and improper input handling, and maps to ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and command execution. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious command execution patterns and implement multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the attack surface.
The affected platform's design flaw demonstrates inadequate input validation and sanitization in the web interface components, particularly in how it processes user-supplied parameters for system command execution. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar command injection vulnerabilities and ensure that administrative interfaces properly validate and sanitize all user inputs before processing them as system commands. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security updates and patch management programs to protect against known exploits in network infrastructure devices.