CVE-2017-6759 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the UpgradeManager of the Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool 12.1 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to write arbitrary files as root on the system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by triggering the upgrade package installation functionality. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc90304.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6759 resides within the UpgradeManager component of Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool version 12.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary file operations with root privileges. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the upgrade package installation functionality, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could compromise the entire system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient sanitization of user-provided inputs during the upgrade package processing phase. When an authenticated attacker triggers the upgrade package installation functionality, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters, allowing malicious file paths or content to be written to critical system locations. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a privilege escalation vector that transforms authenticated access into root-level system compromise. The attack requires only authentication credentials to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate administrative functionality to achieve unauthorized system control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control including the ability to modify critical system files, install backdoors, or establish persistent access. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can target vulnerable systems without physical access, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where collaboration tools are frequently targeted. The fact that this vulnerability operates at the root level undermines the fundamental security model of the system, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire network infrastructures that rely on the affected provisioning tool.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application from Cisco, which addresses the input validation deficiencies in the UpgradeManager component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the provisioning tool, enforce strict access controls, and monitor for unusual upgrade package installation activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in system components handling administrative functions. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for file system modifications and access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Regular security assessments of administrative tools and components should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses that could lead to similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities.