CVE-2017-6726 in Prime Network Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of the Cisco Prime Network Gateway could allow an authenticated, local attacker to retrieve system process information, which could lead to the disclosure of confidential information. More Information: CSCvd59341. Known Affected Releases: 4.2(1.0)P1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6726 resides within the command line interface of Cisco Prime Network Gateway version 4.2(1.0)P1, representing a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity of system information protection. This issue affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the device's command line interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors who have already gained legitimate access to exploit the system further. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and information disclosure protections within the CLI implementation, allowing an authenticated local user to extract sensitive process information that would normally be restricted from unauthorized viewing. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate sandboxing of system processes within the network gateway's administrative interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of command line interface functions that should normally restrict access to system process information. An attacker with valid credentials and local access can execute specific commands that bypass normal security boundaries, potentially revealing process identifiers, memory addresses, and other confidential system data. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the CLI component that manages administrative access to the Prime Network Gateway. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, Information Exposure, and represents a failure in proper access control mechanisms. The implementation lacks proper input validation and output sanitization within the CLI environment, allowing for the retrieval of system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation. Attackers could use the disclosed process information to identify running services, memory structures, and potential attack vectors for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6726 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the retrieved system process information could provide attackers with detailed insights into the internal workings of the network gateway. This intelligence could enable sophisticated attacks including process injection, memory corruption exploitation, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco Prime Network Gateway for network management, as it allows for the enumeration of system resources and potential service weaknesses. The disclosure of process information could facilitate advanced persistent threat campaigns where attackers use the gathered intelligence to craft more effective attack strategies. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability undermines the confidentiality controls that should protect sensitive system information within the administrative interface. The impact is particularly severe in environments where network gateways serve as critical infrastructure components, as the information disclosure could enable attackers to map network topologies, identify service dependencies, and develop targeted attack strategies. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1057, Process Discovery, and demonstrates the failure of network devices to properly protect system information from authenticated users.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the information disclosure vulnerability in the CLI component. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to system process information. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, particularly for critical network infrastructure components. Implementing network segmentation and reducing the attack surface through proper access control policies can help minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous CLI usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify proper access controls and information protection mechanisms. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security configurations and the importance of vendor-provided security advisories in protecting network infrastructure from information disclosure threats that could compromise overall network security posture.