CVE-2017-12226 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based Wireless Controller GUI of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco 5760 Wireless LAN Controllers, Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E (Wireless) Switches, and Cisco New Generation Wireless Controllers (NGWC) 3850 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate their privileges on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input validation of HTTP requests by the affected GUI, if the GUI connection state or protocol changes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the Wireless Controller GUI as a Lobby Administrator user of an affected device and subsequently changing the state or protocol for their connection to the GUI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate their privilege level to administrator and gain full control of the affected device. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco products if they are running Cisco IOS XE Software Release 3.7.0E, 3.7.1E, 3.7.2E, 3.7.3E, 3.7.4E, or 3.7.5E: Cisco 5760 Wireless LAN Controllers, Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E (Wireless) Switches, Cisco New Generation Wireless Controllers (NGWC) 3850. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd73746.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in Cisco's wireless networking infrastructure, specifically targeting the web-based graphical user interface of IOS XE Software. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the HTTP request processing layer of the wireless controller GUI, creating an exploitable condition when the GUI connection state or protocol undergoes changes during an active session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication as a Lobby Administrator user, a relatively low-privilege account, to initiate the exploitation process. This authentication requirement significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring physical access or more elevated credentials. The flaw exists in multiple Cisco hardware platforms including the 5760 Wireless LAN Controllers, Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E switches, and NGWC 3850 controllers, all running specific software releases from version 3.7.0E through 3.7.5E. The incomplete validation of HTTP requests creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate session states and protocol handling, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should prevent privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation grants attackers full administrative privileges over the affected wireless controllers. This elevated access level provides complete control over wireless network operations including user authentication management, network configuration changes, wireless signal parameters, and potentially access to sensitive network data flowing through the wireless infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where wireless controllers manage critical network access points, as attackers could disrupt network services, monitor wireless communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation method specifically targets the GUI session management mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous because it operates within the normal administrative interface that network administrators regularly use. This approach allows attackers to remain relatively undetected while maintaining persistent access to the network's wireless core infrastructure.
Cisco's assessment of this vulnerability aligns with common privilege escalation patterns found in web application security frameworks and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in network security design. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" in network environments. The specific conditions required for exploitation - authentication as a Lobby Administrator followed by connection state manipulation - suggest that this vulnerability may also relate to session management flaws documented in CWE-613 and CWE-384. Organizations running affected Cisco products face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it provides a direct path to complete network infrastructure compromise through relatively simple exploitation techniques. The affected software versions represent a specific release cycle that required immediate attention from network administrators, as the vulnerability could be exploited remotely without requiring additional attack vectors or complex prerequisites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate software updates and operational security measures. Cisco has released patches addressing this issue through security advisories, and organizations should prioritize applying the relevant IOS XE software updates to affected devices. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring of GUI session activities and authentication patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's requirement for a valid Lobby Administrator account means that proper credential management and access control policies become critical defensive measures. Organizations should consider implementing role-based access controls that limit GUI access to only necessary personnel and establish regular audits of administrative activities. Network segmentation and monitoring of wireless controller communications can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, disabling unnecessary GUI access where possible and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access can provide additional layers of protection against this type of privilege escalation attack.