CVE-2017-6709 in Ultra Services Framework
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the AutoVNF tool for the Cisco Ultra Services Framework could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access administrative credentials for Cisco Elastic Services Controller (ESC) and Cisco OpenStack deployments in an affected system. The vulnerability exists because the affected software logs administrative credentials in clear text for Cisco ESC and Cisco OpenStack deployment purposes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by accessing the AutoVNF URL for the location where the log files are stored and subsequently accessing the administrative credentials that are stored in clear text in those log files. This vulnerability affects all releases of the Cisco Ultra Services Framework prior to Releases 5.0.3 and 5.1. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc76659.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-6709 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco's Ultra Services Framework that specifically impacts the AutoVNF tool used for deploying Cisco Elastic Services Controller and Cisco OpenStack environments. This vulnerability stems from improper credential handling practices where administrative credentials are stored in plaintext within log files, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain access to sensitive administrative information. The flaw exists in the logging mechanisms of the affected software, which fails to implement proper credential sanitization or encryption measures when recording administrative access information. This represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and demonstrates poor security hygiene in credential management within the deployment framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward yet devastating attack vector that leverages the predictable URL structure of the AutoVNF tool's log file storage locations. Attackers can directly access the AutoVNF URL endpoint where log files containing clear text administrative credentials are stored, bypassing any authentication mechanisms that should normally protect such sensitive information. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Cisco Ultra Services Framework prior to releases 5.0.3 and 5.1, indicating that this was a persistent flaw that remained unaddressed for an extended period. The clear text storage of credentials violates multiple security principles and creates a direct path to privilege escalation, as administrative credentials are stored without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure data handling practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, as administrative access to Cisco ESC and OpenStack deployments provides attackers with complete control over critical infrastructure components. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to network resources managed by these platforms. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior access or credentials to exploit, turning any network-connected attacker into a potential threat. Organizations using affected versions of the Cisco Ultra Services Framework face significant risk of unauthorized access to their cloud infrastructure deployments, potentially leading to widespread security incidents. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers can leverage the exposed credentials to establish persistent access and move laterally within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to versions 5.0.3 or 5.1 of the Cisco Ultra Services Framework where the issue has been addressed through proper credential handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to AutoVNF endpoints and log file storage locations, while also conducting comprehensive audits of credential storage practices across all deployed systems. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to log file directories, and organizations should implement proper credential rotation procedures to minimize the impact of any potential credential exposure. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of all deployment frameworks to identify similar credential handling vulnerabilities, as this flaw represents a broader category of insecure credential storage practices that may exist in other components of the infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure credential management and the need for proper input validation and data sanitization in all software components that handle sensitive information.