CVE-2017-3884 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network (EPN) Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive data. The attacker does not need administrator credentials and could use this information to conduct additional reconnaissance attacks. More Information: CSCvc60031 (Fixed) CSCvc60041 (Fixed) CSCvc60095 (Open) CSCvc60102 (Open). Known Affected Releases: 2.2 2.2(3) 3.0 3.1(0.0) 3.1(0.128) 3.1(4.0) 3.1(5.0) 3.2(0.0) 2.0(4.0.45D).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
This vulnerability resides within the web interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager products, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to access sensitive operational data. The vulnerability specifically affects versions 2.2, 2.2(3), 3.0, 3.1(0.0), 3.1(0.128), 3.1(4.0), 3.1(5.0), and 3.2(0.0) along with release 2.0(4.0.45D). The flaw stems from insufficient access controls within the web application layer, allowing attackers who possess valid user credentials to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to confidential network management information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and privilege enforcement within the web interface components. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive data including network configurations, device credentials, user information, and operational details that would normally be restricted to authorized administrators. This represents a significant bypass of the intended security model where standard user accounts could potentially access data typically protected by administrative privileges. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in web applications, and reflects the broader category of privilege escalation flaws that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance material that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the network infrastructure. The sensitive data accessible through this vulnerability includes configuration details, device inventory information, and potentially credential stores that could facilitate further compromise of the network. This weakness creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco Prime Infrastructure for network management, as it undermines the security boundaries that should protect sensitive operational data from unauthorized access. The vulnerability's presence in multiple release versions indicates a persistent flaw in the web interface implementation that required patching across several product iterations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant security patches provided by Cisco, reviewing user account permissions to ensure proper least-privilege access, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity related to the affected web interface components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the web application layer where unauthorized access to sensitive data can be achieved through proper authorization bypass mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls and access logging to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's nature makes it particularly challenging to detect through conventional security measures. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network management workflows while maintaining the integrity of the security controls.