CVE-2017-6754 in Smart Net Total Care
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) Software Collector Appliance 3.11 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform a read-only, blind SQL injection attack, which could allow the attacker to compromise the confidentiality of the system through SQL timing attacks. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of certain user-supplied fields that are subsequently used by the affected software to build SQL queries. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted URLs, which are designed to exploit the vulnerability, to the affected software. To execute an attack successfully, the attacker would need to submit a number of requests to the affected software. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to determine the presence of values in the SQL database of the affected software. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf07617.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6754 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Smart Net Total Care Software Collector Appliance version 3.11, representing a critical security flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute read-only blind SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's processing of user-supplied data that is subsequently incorporated into SQL query construction. The affected system processes certain parameters through user-controllable inputs without proper sanitization, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability specifically targets the software's handling of URL parameters that are processed by the backend database layer, where insufficient validation allows crafted input to be directly embedded into SQL statements. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-89, which identifies SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in application security where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to access the management interface before attempting exploitation, which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. The exploitation process involves submitting specially crafted URLs that contain malicious SQL payloads designed to trigger specific database responses that can be observed through timing variations, enabling what is known as SQL timing attacks to infer database contents. This approach allows attackers to perform reconnaissance on the database structure and potentially extract sensitive information without direct access to the database itself, making the attack particularly dangerous as it operates silently in the background.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform extensive reconnaissance on the underlying database infrastructure. Through repeated timing-based queries, an attacker can determine the presence of specific values within database tables, potentially uncovering sensitive information such as user credentials, system configurations, or other proprietary data stored within the appliance's database. The blind nature of the SQL injection means that attackers cannot directly retrieve data through conventional means, but must instead rely on indirect methods such as timing attacks or inference techniques to understand the database structure and content. The vulnerability's classification as a read-only attack indicates that while attackers can extract information from the database, they cannot modify or delete data, but this limitation does not reduce the severity of the exposure. The requirement for multiple requests to successfully execute the timing attacks suggests that the exploitation process is methodical and requires significant time investment, but also indicates that the vulnerability is persistent and can be leveraged over extended periods. This type of attack aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1213.001 technique for Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries extract data from databases through various injection methods. The vulnerability's presence in the SNTC appliance specifically impacts organizations that rely on Cisco's network management solutions, potentially exposing critical infrastructure monitoring data to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6754 should focus on both immediate patching and broader security hardening measures. Cisco has released software updates addressing this vulnerability through bug ID CSCvf07617, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches to eliminate the root cause of the issue. The patch implementation should be carefully tested in non-production environments to ensure compatibility with existing network management workflows. Beyond patching, organizations should implement additional security controls such as input validation and sanitization at multiple layers of the application architecture, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes proper validation before being processed by database systems. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the number of users with access to the management interface, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection by detecting and blocking suspicious SQL injection patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems and applications. The vulnerability's characteristics also highlight the importance of following secure coding practices, particularly in the validation and handling of user inputs within database query construction processes. Security teams should establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate timing-based SQL injection attempts, as these attacks can be difficult to detect through traditional security controls. Regular security awareness training for system administrators and network operators can help prevent unauthorized access to management interfaces, which is a prerequisite for exploiting this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the applied patches do not disrupt existing network monitoring and management operations, particularly in mission-critical environments where the SNTC appliance plays a vital role in infrastructure oversight.