CVE-2017-6750 in Web Security Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in AsyncOS for the Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to log in to the device with the privileges of a limited user or an unauthenticated, remote attacker to authenticate to certain areas of the web GUI, aka a Static Credentials Vulnerability. Affected Products: virtual and hardware versions of Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA). More Information: CSCve06124. Known Affected Releases: 10.1.0-204. Known Fixed Releases: 10.5.1-270.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6750 represents a critical static credentials flaw within Cisco Web Security Appliance AsyncOS versions, specifically affecting both virtual and hardware deployments. This vulnerability manifests as a persistent authentication weakness that allows attackers to exploit hardcoded credentials, creating pathways for unauthorized access to the device's web interface. The flaw exists in the device's authentication mechanism where default credentials remain unchanged, enabling attackers to bypass standard authentication procedures and gain access to restricted administrative functions. The vulnerability's classification as a static credentials vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software systems, making it a prime target for exploitation by threat actors seeking persistent access to network security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the presence of default usernames and passwords that are not properly secured or changed during device deployment, creating an inherent risk that persists across all affected versions of the AsyncOS platform. Attackers can leverage this weakness through either local or remote access vectors, with the local attack scenario allowing unauthenticated access to limited user privileges while the remote attack vector enables authentication to specific areas of the web GUI without proper authorization. The affected releases spanning from version 10.1.0-204 through the vulnerable configurations demonstrate a significant window of exposure where organizations deployed the affected WSA appliances without adequate protection against this credential-based attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6750 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to escalate privileges and compromise the entire security infrastructure managed by the Web Security Appliance. This vulnerability directly affects the device's ability to maintain secure authentication boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to modify security policies, view sensitive network traffic, or redirect traffic through malicious proxies. The implications for network security are particularly severe given that the WSA appliance serves as a critical component in enterprise security architectures, providing web filtering, content inspection, and threat prevention capabilities. Organizations utilizing these appliances without proper patching or credential management practices face significant risk of complete compromise of their web security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6750 require immediate implementation of several defensive measures including the deployment of the patched AsyncOS version 10.5.1-270 or later, which addresses the hardcoded credential vulnerability through proper credential management and authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also implement strict credential rotation policies, ensuring that default administrative accounts are disabled or have their credentials changed immediately upon deployment. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unauthorized access attempts to the web GUI interface. The vulnerability's alignment with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive access controls and user behavior monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar static credential vulnerabilities within the broader network infrastructure, ensuring that the security posture remains resilient against credential-based attack vectors.