CVE-2017-6713 in Elastic Services Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Play Framework of Cisco Elastic Services Controller (ESC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain full access to the affected system. The vulnerability is due to static, default credentials for the Cisco ESC UI that are shared between installations. An attacker who can extract the static credentials from an existing installation of Cisco ESC could generate an admin session token that allows access to all instances of the ESC web UI. This vulnerability affects Cisco Elastic Services Controller prior to releases 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc76627.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6713 represents a critical authentication flaw within Cisco Elastic Services Controller implementations that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected deployments. This weakness stems from the implementation of static default credentials that persist across multiple installations of the Cisco ESC platform, creating a persistent attack vector that transcends individual system boundaries. The flaw specifically impacts the Play Framework component of the ESC, which serves as the core web interface for system administration and management operations. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that these default credentials are not only hardcoded but also shared across all instances, eliminating the typical security benefits of unique credential sets that would normally limit the scope of credential compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a predictable attack pattern that aligns with common credential theft methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access category. An unauthenticated remote attacker who successfully extracts the static credentials from any single ESC installation can leverage these compromised credentials to generate administrative session tokens that grant access to all instances of the ESC web UI. This cross-instance privilege escalation capability represents a significant operational risk as it transforms what would typically be a localized compromise into a widespread system takeover scenario. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the application layer, bypassing traditional network-based security controls and directly targeting the administrative interface that controls core system functions.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage the administrative privileges to modify system configurations, deploy malicious code, access sensitive data, and establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects Cisco ESC versions prior to releases 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2, indicating that organizations running these older versions face the highest risk of exploitation. The shared nature of these credentials creates a scenario where a single successful attack can provide attackers with access to multiple systems simultaneously, effectively creating a "key to the kingdom" scenario for network administrators and security professionals. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques focused on privilege escalation and credential access.
Organizations must implement immediate remediation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that resolve the static credential issue. The recommended mitigation approach involves not only updating to the patched versions but also implementing comprehensive credential management practices that eliminate the use of default credentials across all system components. Security teams should conduct thorough inventory audits to identify all affected ESC installations and ensure that proper access controls are implemented for administrative interfaces. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and regular security assessments to prevent similar issues from arising in other system components. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring controls should be enhanced to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces, while implementing multi-factor authentication for critical administrative accounts where possible.