CVE-2017-3869 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
An API Credentials Management vulnerability in the APIs for Cisco Prime Infrastructure could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access an API that should be restricted to a privileged user. The attacker needs to have valid credentials. More Information: CSCuy36192. Known Affected Releases: 3.1(1) 3.1(1).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3869 represents a critical API credentials management flaw within Cisco Prime Infrastructure version 3.1(1) and 3.1(1). This issue stems from inadequate access controls that permit authenticated attackers to exploit restricted API endpoints intended solely for privileged users. The vulnerability manifests through improper authorization mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user privileges before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. Such a flaw creates a significant security risk as it allows attackers with legitimate credentials to escalate their privileges and access functionality that should remain restricted to authorized administrative personnel. The affected system operates under the assumption that valid authentication credentials equate to appropriate authorization levels, which represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the API access control validation process within the Cisco Prime Infrastructure framework. Specifically, the system does not properly enforce role-based access controls when processing API requests, allowing authenticated users to bypass normal authorization checks. This weakness enables attackers to make API calls that should require administrative privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive system information, configuration data, or operational controls. The vulnerability affects the underlying API credential management system where the authentication token validation process fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges for the requested resource. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that violates established security principles and creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3869 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire infrastructure management system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access sensitive network configuration data, modify system settings, or potentially disrupt critical infrastructure operations. The risk is particularly concerning because the attacker only requires valid credentials rather than elevated privileges, making the attack vector more accessible. This vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within the network infrastructure, as the compromised API access might provide pathways to other systems or services within the Prime Infrastructure environment. The potential for data exfiltration, configuration manipulation, and operational disruption makes this a significant concern for organizations relying on Cisco Prime Infrastructure for network management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and additional monitoring of API access patterns can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of stricter API access controls and enhanced logging of administrative API calls provides additional layers of defense. Security teams should also conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel possess the necessary privileges for administrative API functions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access. Organizations must also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and regular security assessments to prevent similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities from occurring in other systems within their infrastructure.