CVE-2016-6435 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
The web console in Cisco Firepower Management Center 6.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via crafted parameters, aka Bug ID CSCva30376.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6435 resides within the web console component of Cisco Firepower Management Center version 6.0.1, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. This vulnerability specifically affects the web interface management console which serves as the primary administrative gateway for configuring and monitoring the firewalls. The flaw manifests through improperly validated user input parameters that are processed by the web application without adequate sanitization or access control enforcement, allowing attackers to manipulate file path references and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web console's file handling routines. When authenticated users submit crafted parameters to the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before processing file operations. This weakness creates a path traversal condition where attackers can manipulate directory navigation sequences such as ../ or ..\ to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files outside of the intended application directory structure. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised legitimate users with valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to potentially sensitive configuration files, system logs, and other administrative data that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The compromised system may contain credentials, encryption keys, network configuration details, and other confidential information that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct additional attacks against the network infrastructure. Attackers could potentially access the system's database files, configuration files, or even system binaries, depending on the permissions of the authenticated account. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as it enables attackers to discover and exfiltrate sensitive files from the compromised system, potentially leading to broader network infiltration.
The security implications of CVE-2016-6435 are significant for organizations using Cisco Firepower Management Center 6.0.1, as it represents a serious privilege escalation and information disclosure threat that can be exploited by attackers with minimal credentials. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the management console, and enforcing strict access controls for administrative accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or parameter manipulation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their network security infrastructure.