CVE-2017-12251 in Cloud Services Platform 2100
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web console of the Cisco Cloud Services Platform (CSP) 2100 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to interact maliciously with the services or virtual machines (VMs) operating remotely on an affected CSP device. The vulnerability is due to weaknesses in the generation of certain authentication mechanisms in the URL of the web console. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by browsing to one of the hosted VMs' URLs in Cisco CSP and viewing specific patterns that control the web application's mechanisms for authentication control. An exploit could allow the attacker to access a specific VM on the CSP, which causes a complete loss of the system's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This vulnerability affects Cisco Cloud Services Platform (CSP) 2100 running software release 2.1.0, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.2.0, 2.2.1, or 2.2.2. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve64690.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12251 resides within the web console implementation of Cisco Cloud Services Platform CSP 2100 devices, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to virtual machine resources. This weakness specifically manifests in the flawed generation of authentication mechanisms embedded within Uniform Resource Locators used for accessing hosted virtual machines. The vulnerability operates through a predictable pattern in URL construction that allows attackers to manipulate authentication controls by simply navigating to specific VM URLs within the web application interface. The flaw stems from inadequate session management and token generation practices that fail to properly validate access controls, creating an avenue for privilege escalation and unauthorized system interaction.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can leverage the predictable URL patterns to bypass the intended authentication mechanisms. When an attacker accesses specific VM URLs, they can observe and manipulate the authentication control patterns that govern access to virtual machine resources. This manipulation results in unauthorized access to targeted virtual machines, effectively compromising the entire system's security posture. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The flaw particularly affects Cisco CSP 2100 devices running software releases 2.1.0 through 2.2.2, indicating a widespread issue across multiple versions of the platform's software stack. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-352, addressing cross-site request forgery issues in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12251 represents a severe threat to cloud infrastructure security, as it allows attackers to directly access and manipulate virtual machine resources without proper authorization. This vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially execute arbitrary commands on target VMs, access sensitive data stored within virtual environments, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system control. The compromised system confidentiality means that attackers can view and exfiltrate data from virtual machines, while the integrity compromise allows for modification of virtual machine configurations and data. The availability impact occurs through potential denial of service scenarios where attackers can disrupt virtual machine operations or even shut down critical services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement within cloud environments, enabling attackers to establish persistent access and expand their operational capabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates released to address the authentication mechanism flaws. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual access patterns to virtual machine resources. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper session management and authentication token generation in cloud platform implementations, emphasizing the need for robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in authentication mechanisms across cloud infrastructure components, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar exploitation vectors that could compromise cloud service availability and security.