CVE-2017-6712 in Elastic Services Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in certain commands of Cisco Elastic Services Controller could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges to root and run dangerous commands on the server. The vulnerability occurs because a "tomcat" user on the system can run certain shell commands, allowing the user to overwrite any file on the filesystem and elevate privileges to root. This vulnerability affects Cisco Elastic Services Controller prior to releases 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc76634.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6712 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Cisco Elastic Services Controller platforms. This weakness stems from improper access controls and command execution mechanisms that permit authenticated users to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems running Cisco Elastic Services Controller software versions prior to 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2, making a substantial portion of deployed installations susceptible to exploitation. The flaw enables remote attackers with valid credentials to escalate their privileges from a standard user account to root level access, fundamentally compromising the security posture of affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of shell commands by the tomcat user account, which operates with elevated privileges within the application framework. This user account possesses the ability to execute specific shell commands that, when manipulated correctly, can overwrite critical system files and directories. The vulnerability exploits a design flaw where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user inputs passed to shell execution functions, creating an environment where arbitrary file operations become possible. This misconfiguration allows an authenticated attacker to leverage the tomcat user's permissions to modify system files, effectively bypassing normal access controls and privilege boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6712 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected systems. Once elevated to root privileges, an attacker can execute any command on the system, install malicious software, modify system configurations, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network infrastructures. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to organizations relying on Cisco Elastic Services Controller for critical business operations, as it can result in service disruption and regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates released in versions 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2 to address the vulnerability. System administrators should also review and restrict the privileges of the tomcat user account, ensuring that only necessary commands are executable and that file system access is properly restricted. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities related to privilege escalation attempts. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" and CWE-78: "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command." The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation techniques under T1068: "Local Port Forwarding" and T1548.1: "Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism." Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls, regular security audits, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts.