CVE-2016-9223 in CloudCenter Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Docker Engine configuration of Cisco CloudCenter Orchestrator (CCO; formely CliQr) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to install Docker containers with high privileges on the affected system. Affected Products: This vulnerability affect all releases of Cisco CloudCenter Orchestrator (CCO) deployments where the Docker Engine TCP port 2375 is open on the system and bound to local address 0.0.0.0 (any interface).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2019
This vulnerability resides within the Docker Engine configuration of Cisco CloudCenter Orchestrator, a platform designed for cloud application deployment and management. The flaw represents a critical security oversight where the Docker daemon is improperly exposed to external networks without adequate authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects deployments where Docker Engine TCP port 2375 is accessible from any network interface, creating an attack surface that allows unauthorized remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Docker daemon's default configuration behavior when bound to 0.0.0.0, which accepts connections from all network interfaces. This configuration bypasses normal access controls and authentication protocols that should normally restrict Docker daemon operations to local system users only. When the Docker daemon listens on port 2375 without proper TLS encryption or authentication, it becomes vulnerable to exploitation by any remote attacker who can reach the system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell), as it allows arbitrary command execution through container deployment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected organizations. An unauthenticated attacker can remotely deploy Docker containers with elevated privileges, effectively gaining root-level access to the underlying host system. This privilege escalation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, and potentially compromise the entire container orchestration environment. The vulnerability essentially provides a complete compromise of the host system, as Docker containers can be configured to run with full host privileges when properly exploited. Organizations using Cisco CloudCenter Orchestrator with exposed Docker Engine ports face immediate risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control implementation. The primary recommendation involves restricting access to the Docker Engine TCP port 2375 through firewall rules, ensuring that only authorized management systems can reach this port. Organizations should also implement proper Docker daemon configuration by binding the Docker socket to a local Unix socket instead of TCP ports, or by enabling TLS encryption and mutual authentication. The solution should include disabling remote access to the Docker daemon unless absolutely necessary, and implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that Docker daemon configurations follow security best practices, and organizations should consider implementing container runtime security solutions that can detect and prevent unauthorized container deployments. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper network segmentation and the principle of least privilege in containerized environments, as outlined in NIST SP 800-193 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for secure container management.