CVE-2017-12277 in Firepower 4100
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Smart Licensing Manager service of the Cisco Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) and Firepower 9300 Security Appliance could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that could be executed with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of certain Smart Licensing configuration parameters. An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by configuring a malicious URL within the affected feature. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco Firepower Security products running FX-OS code trains 1.1.3, 1.1.4, and 2.0.1 (versions 2.1.1, 2.2.1, and 2.2.2 are not affected): Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewall and Firepower 9300 Security Appliance. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvb86863.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12277 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Smart Licensing Manager service of Cisco Firepower security appliances. This weakness exists in the FX-OS operating system code trains 1.1.3, 1.1.4, and 2.0.1, affecting both Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewalls and Firepower 9300 Security Appliances. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters during Smart Licensing configuration processes. The flaw specifically manifests when an authenticated attacker manipulates certain configuration parameters that are processed by the Smart Licensing Manager service, creating an avenue for arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can configure malicious parameters within the affected Smart Licensing features. The insufficient input validation allows malicious URLs or command sequences to be injected into configuration parameters, which are then processed without proper sanitization. When these malformed inputs are processed by the Smart Licensing Manager service, they can trigger command execution contexts that operate with root privileges, effectively granting attackers complete system control. This command injection vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code, as the system fails to properly validate and sanitize user inputs before executing them as commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities that can be leveraged for persistent access, data exfiltration, and network reconnaissance. An attacker with valid credentials can exploit this vulnerability to establish backdoors, modify firewall rules, disable security features, or use the compromised appliance as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The root privilege execution capability means that attackers can modify system files, install malicious software, and potentially disrupt network security operations. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations relying on Cisco Firepower appliances for network security, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of these devices and can lead to significant operational disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12277 should prioritize immediate patch deployment for affected devices running the vulnerable FX-OS code trains. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit authentication opportunities for unauthorized users. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative access to only necessary personnel and systems. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns or unexpected configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Firepower deployments to identify any potential exploitation indicators and implement proper input validation controls within their network security infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the compromised service, and T1078 for valid accounts, since exploitation requires legitimate authentication credentials.