CVE-2017-3822 in Threat Defense
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the logging subsystem of the Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Firepower Device Manager (FDM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to add arbitrary entries to the audit log. This vulnerability affects Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software versions 6.1.x on the following vulnerable products that have enabled FDM: ASA5506-X ASA5506W-X ASA5506H-X ASA5508-X ASA5516-X ASA5512-X ASA5515-X ASA5525-X ASA5545-X ASA5555-X. More Information: CSCvb86860. Known Affected Releases: FRANGELICO. Known Fixed Releases: 6.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3822 represents a critical security flaw within the logging infrastructure of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense systems, specifically affecting the Firepower Device Manager component. This weakness resides in the audit logging subsystem where unauthorized remote attackers can manipulate log entries without authentication, potentially compromising the integrity and reliability of security event records. The vulnerability impacts Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software versions 6.1.x across multiple ASA firewall models including the 5506-X, 5506W-X, 5506H-X, 5508-X, 5516-X, 5512-X, 5515-X, 5525-X, 5545-X, and 5555-X series devices. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access controls within the logging mechanism, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary data into the system's audit trail. This issue directly relates to CWE-776, which addresses insufficient input validation in logging systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for credential dumping and T1070 for indicator removal.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple log manipulation, as it creates opportunities for attackers to obscure their malicious activities within legitimate system logs. An unauthenticated remote attacker could insert false entries that mask actual security incidents or create false positives that confuse security analysts during incident response. This manipulation of audit trails undermines the fundamental purpose of security logging, which is to provide accurate and trustworthy records of system activities for forensic analysis and compliance purposes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core security management functionality of the Firepower system, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistence or cover their tracks during extended intrusion campaigns. The flaw enables attackers to compromise the integrity of the security monitoring infrastructure, making it difficult for organizations to detect and respond to actual threats.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the deployment of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software version 6.2.0, which contains the necessary patches to address the logging vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect any suspicious log entries that may indicate exploitation attempts, along with regular audit trail reviews to identify potential tampering. Network administrators should implement additional logging controls and access restrictions to limit who can modify system logs, while also establishing more robust monitoring procedures for audit log integrity. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to determine if any unauthorized log entries have already been introduced into the system, and consider implementing third-party log management solutions that provide additional integrity checking capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure logging practices and highlights the need for proper input validation and access controls in all system components, particularly those responsible for security auditing and monitoring functions.