CVE-2017-6602 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of 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: CSCvb66189 CSCvb86775. Known Affected Releases: 2.0(1.68) 3.1(1k)A. Known Fixed Releases: 92.2(1.101) 92.1(1.1742) 92.1(1.1658) 2.1(1.38) 2.0(1.107) 2.0(1.87) 1.1(4.148) 1.1(4.138).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6602 represents a critical command injection flaw within the command line interface of several Cisco network security products including the Unified Computing System Manager and Firepower series appliances. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the CLI processing components, allowing authenticated local attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The flaw exists in the way the system handles user-supplied input during CLI operations, creating an opportunity for malicious command injection that bypasses normal security controls. The affected devices include Cisco UCS Manager versions 2.0(1.68), 3.1(1k)A, and various Firepower appliances with specific release versions as noted in the advisory documentation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper sanitization of command line arguments within the affected Cisco products. When legitimate users interact with the CLI, the system fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as command delimiters or injection points. This allows an authenticated attacker with local access to craft malicious input that gets executed as system commands rather than being treated as simple data parameters. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection attack vector under CWE-77, which specifically addresses situations where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into command execution without proper validation or sanitization. The attack requires local authentication access to the system, meaning the threat actor must already possess legitimate credentials to exploit the flaw, but this reduces the attack surface complexity compared to remote exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6602 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands with the highest system privileges, potentially gaining complete control over the affected appliance. This could enable unauthorized access to network traffic monitoring data, configuration changes to security policies, or even the installation of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core management interfaces of these devices, which are typically considered high-value targets in network security infrastructures. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Local Privilege Escalation, representing both command execution and privilege escalation attack patterns. The affected systems include critical security infrastructure components that protect enterprise networks, making the potential impact substantial for organizations relying on these appliances.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6602 should prioritize immediate deployment of vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates to the identified fixed releases. Organizations must ensure that all affected Cisco UCS Manager and Firepower appliances are updated to versions 92.2(1.101), 92.1(1.1742), 92.1(1.1658), 2.1(1.38), 2.0(1.107), 2.0(1.87), 1.1(4.148), or 1.1(4.138) as specified in the advisory. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit local administrative access to these devices, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular security audits should verify that only authorized personnel have local access to these critical systems, and that proper authentication controls are in place. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sanitization in system interfaces, particularly for management and administrative functions, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for secure system design and implementation.