CVE-2017-6598 in Unified Computing System Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the debug plug-in functionality 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 execute arbitrary commands, aka Privilege Escalation. More Information: CSCvb86725 CSCvb86797. Known Affected Releases: 2.0(1.68) 3.1(1k)A. Known Fixed Releases: 92.2(1.105) 92.1(1.1733) 2.1(1.69).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6598 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Cisco's security infrastructure products including the Unified Computing System Manager and Firepower series appliances. This vulnerability specifically targets the debug plug-in functionality, which serves as a diagnostic and troubleshooting mechanism within these systems. The flaw allows authenticated local attackers to exploit the debug interface and execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing normal access controls and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling within the debug plugin implementation, creating a pathway for malicious users with legitimate credentials to escalate their access level and gain unauthorized system control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of debug plugin parameters that are improperly validated during execution. When an authenticated user accesses the debug functionality, the system fails to properly sanitize input parameters, allowing crafted payloads to be interpreted and executed as system commands. This flaw operates at the kernel or system level within the affected appliances, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security controls that typically protect against command injection attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses OS command injection flaws, and represents a direct exploitation of privilege escalation mechanisms within network security appliances.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6598 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to completely compromise the affected systems. Once exploited, attackers can modify system configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised appliance as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects critical network security infrastructure, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to establish persistent access within enterprise environments. Organizations using these appliances face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement attacks that could compromise entire network perimeters.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Cisco Firepower 4100 and 9300 appliances to versions 92.2(1.105), 92.1(1.1733), or 2.1(1.69) as specified in the advisory. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and access control measures to detect suspicious activity in debug plugin usage and privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege separation within security appliances, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through system binary manipulation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify any other potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper segmentation of critical security appliances to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.