CVE-2016-9197 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI command parser of the Cisco Mobility Express 2800 and 3800 Series Wireless LAN Controllers could allow an authenticated, local attacker to obtain access to the underlying operating system shell with root-level privileges. More Information: CSCvb70351. Known Affected Releases: 8.3(102.0).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9197 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the command line interface parser of Cisco Mobility Express 2800 and 3800 Series Wireless LAN Controllers. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the device's command processing subsystem, creating a pathway for authenticated local attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access. The vulnerability specifically affects version 8.3(102.0) of the affected controllers, making it a targeted concern for organizations utilizing these particular hardware models in their wireless infrastructure deployments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through deliberate manipulation of CLI commands that bypass normal authentication checks and privilege boundaries. When an attacker successfully crafts specific input sequences that exploit the parser's handling of command arguments, the system fails to properly validate the input before executing administrative operations. This flaw falls under the category of command injection vulnerabilities and aligns with CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges, potentially enabling complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network data and configurations.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. An attacker with local access to the device can leverage this vulnerability to gain root-level shell access, potentially leading to unauthorized network monitoring, configuration changes, data exfiltration, and service disruption. The attack vector requires only local authentication, making it particularly concerning for environments where physical access controls are insufficient or where insiders with legitimate access might pose a threat. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and represents a significant risk to wireless network security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the specific command parsing flaws in the affected software versions. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local administrative access to these devices, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and prompt patch management processes, particularly for critical infrastructure components like wireless controllers that serve as fundamental network building blocks. Additionally, implementing network access controls and restricting physical access to these devices can significantly reduce the attack surface and potential impact of such privilege escalation exploits.