CVE-2017-6684 in Elastic Services Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Elastic Services Controllers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected system as the Linux admin user, aka an Insecure Default Credentials Vulnerability. More Information: CSCvc76651. Known Affected Releases: 21.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6684 represents a critical insecure default credentials issue within Cisco Elastic Services Controllers version 21.0.0. This weakness stems from the system's failure to properly secure initial administrative access credentials, creating an exploitable condition that allows authenticated remote attackers to escalate their privileges and gain administrative control over the affected system. The flaw specifically enables attackers to authenticate as the Linux admin user, which provides full system access and control capabilities. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials, where default passwords are not properly changed or secured during deployment, creating a persistent security risk that remains active until manually addressed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the controller's authentication mechanism by leveraging default credentials that remain unchanged after installation. Attackers can remotely access the system using standard network protocols and authenticate with the hardcoded administrative credentials, bypassing normal access controls and security measures. This represents a fundamental failure in secure configuration management where the system does not enforce strong authentication practices or require credential changes during initial setup. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the weakness, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the controller may be exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6684 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected Cisco Elastic Services Controller. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify system configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised controller as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, where attackers leverage default or weak credentials to maintain persistent access to systems. Organizations using affected controllers face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as the compromised system becomes a trusted entry point for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the insecure default credentials configuration. Organizations should implement mandatory credential change procedures during initial deployment, ensuring that default administrative accounts are either disabled or have their passwords changed to strong, unique values. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected controllers to untrusted networks, while regular security audits should verify that default credentials have been properly addressed. The vulnerability aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-123 and ISO/IEC 27001 controls for credential management and access control. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify unauthorized access attempts using default credentials, while regular security patching and configuration management processes should be enforced to prevent similar issues in future deployments.