CVE-2017-3871 in Prime Optical for Service Providers
Summary
by MITRE
A RADIUS Secret Disclosure vulnerability in the web network management interface of Cisco Prime Optical for Service Providers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to disclose sensitive information in the configuration generated for a device. The attacker must have valid credentials for the device. More Information: CSCvc65257. Known Affected Releases: 10.6(0.1).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-3871 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Cisco Prime Optical for Service Providers version 10.6(0.1) that specifically targets the web network management interface. This issue falls under the category of configuration data exposure where sensitive authentication credentials are inadvertently revealed through the RADIUS secret information that forms part of the device configuration files generated by the management system. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in the configuration management process that allows for unauthorized data extraction.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the web interface's configuration generation mechanism where RADIUS secrets are included in the exported device configurations without proper sanitization or access control measures. An authenticated attacker who has valid credentials for the device can exploit this weakness by accessing the web management interface and triggering the configuration export process, which then reveals the RADIUS secrets in cleartext format. This represents a direct violation of information security principles and demonstrates poor separation of concerns in the application's data handling procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure as it provides attackers with the ability to gain unauthorized access to network devices that rely on RADIUS authentication. The disclosed RADIUS secrets can be used to authenticate to network infrastructure components, potentially allowing for privilege escalation, network reconnaissance, and further exploitation of the affected environment. This vulnerability particularly affects service provider networks where multiple devices may be configured with the same RADIUS credentials, amplifying the potential impact of a single successful exploitation. The issue directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Cisco Prime Optical systems to version 10.6(0.1) or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should also implement additional access controls and monitoring around configuration management interfaces to detect unauthorized access attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting access to the web management interface to only authorized personnel with legitimate business requirements. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their network management systems and implement proper configuration management practices that prevent sensitive information from being exposed in automated exports. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that no sensitive credentials are stored or transmitted in cleartext within network configuration files or management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management practices and proper input validation in network management systems to prevent unauthorized information disclosure.