CVE-2017-6597 in Unified Computing System Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the local-mgmt CLI command of the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager, Cisco Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), and Cisco Firepower 9300 Security Appliance could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a command injection attack. More Information: CSCvb61394 CSCvb86816. Known Affected Releases: 2.0(1.68) 3.1(1k)A. Known Fixed Releases: 92.2(1.101) 92.1(1.1658) 2.0(1.115).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6597 represents a critical command injection flaw within the local management command line interface of several Cisco network security products including the Unified Computing System Manager and Firepower series appliances. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the local-mgmt CLI command implementation, creating an exploitable condition that allows authenticated local attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The flaw specifically affects the Cisco UCS Manager and Firepower 4100/9300 series appliances, where the command injection occurs during processing of user-supplied input within the local management interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local authentication, meaning an attacker who has already gained access to a local account can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and execute malicious commands within the system context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes command injection vulnerabilities that occur when untrusted data is passed to an interpreter as part of a command. In this case, the local-mgmt CLI command fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters before incorporating them into system commands, creating a direct path for command injection attacks. The attack vector requires an authenticated local user with access to the CLI interface, but once exploited, the attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the local management process. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability where the attacker can potentially gain root or administrative access to the underlying system, allowing for complete compromise of the affected appliance. The vulnerability affects specific software versions including 2.0(1.68), 3.1(1k)A, and various other releases of the Cisco Firepower and UCS products, with the identified fixed releases providing patches that address the input validation shortcomings.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6597 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to fully compromise the affected appliances and potentially use them as launch points for broader network attacks. This vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to modify system configurations, extract sensitive data, install backdoors, or redirect network traffic through the compromised appliance. The local authentication requirement reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits, but it still represents a significant security risk within environments where local access is possible. Organizations running affected Cisco appliances must consider the potential for lateral movement attacks where a compromised local account could be used to gain access to other network components through the compromised appliance. The vulnerability also has implications for compliance and regulatory requirements, as it creates an unauthenticated path for privilege escalation that could be exploited to hide malicious activities or bypass security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6597 should focus on immediate software updates to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 92.2(1.101), 92.1(1.1658), and 2.0(1.115). Organizations should also implement strict access controls to limit local administrative access to only authorized personnel and establish robust monitoring of CLI activities for suspicious command execution patterns. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that local accounts have only the minimum necessary permissions required for their legitimate functions. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and alert on unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation vulnerabilities in other network management interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and command execution, specifically leveraging T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral analytics to detect anomalous CLI usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to execute commands that would not normally be seen in typical system operations.