CVE-2017-3846 in Workload Automation
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Client Manager Server of Cisco Workload Automation and Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to retrieve any file from the Client Manager Server. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted URL to the Client Manager Server. An exploit could allow the attacker to retrieve any file from the Cisco Workload Automation or Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler Client Manager Server. This vulnerability affects the following products: Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler Client Manager Server releases 6.2.1.435 and later, Cisco Workload Automation Client Manager Server releases 6.3.0.116 and later. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc90789.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3846 represents a critical path traversal flaw in the Client Manager Server component of Cisco Workload Automation and Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler products. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based interface of these enterprise scheduling solutions, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication credentials. The affected systems include Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler Client Manager Server versions 6.2.1.435 and later, as well as Cisco Workload Automation Client Manager Server versions 6.3.0.116 and later, indicating a widespread impact across multiple enterprise automation platforms. The vulnerability was documented under Cisco Bug ID CSCvc90789 and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted URL request that bypasses normal file access controls within the Client Manager Server. When an attacker sends a maliciously formatted URL to the affected server, the insufficient input validation allows the system to interpret and process the request in a way that permits arbitrary file retrieval from the server's file system. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal or directory traversal attacks that enable unauthorized access to files and directories. The flaw essentially allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended file system boundaries and access sensitive configuration files, log files, or other system resources that should remain protected from external access. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack from any location without requiring physical access to the network or system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to potentially sensitive data stored on the affected servers. Enterprise workload automation systems typically contain critical business information, including scheduling configurations, job definitions, and potentially sensitive operational data that could be leveraged for further attacks or business disruption. The ability to retrieve any file from the server creates opportunities for attackers to obtain credentials, configuration details, or other sensitive information that could be used to escalate privileges or compromise additional systems within the enterprise network. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to gain insights into the organization's automation processes, potentially revealing operational patterns or system dependencies that could be exploited in subsequent attacks. The impact is particularly severe given that these systems are typically mission-critical components of enterprise operations.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-3846 should implement immediate mitigations to protect their environments from exploitation attempts. The primary recommendation involves applying the official security patches released by Cisco to address the input validation weakness in the Client Manager Server component. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these systems to untrusted networks. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that might be vulnerable to similar path traversal flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving directory traversal and credential access, potentially enabling adversaries to progress through multiple phases of the attack lifecycle. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and access control implementation in enterprise applications, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such critical flaws from reaching production environments.