CVE-2017-6772 in Elastic Services Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Elastic Services Controller (ESC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information. The vulnerability is due to insufficient protection of sensitive data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the application and navigating to certain configuration files. An exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive system configuration files. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd29408. Known Affected Releases: 2.3(2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6772 affects Cisco Elastic Services Controller version 2.3(2) and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of the affected system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate protection mechanisms for sensitive data within the application's access control framework, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to confidential system configuration files. The flaw specifically manifests when an authenticated user navigates to particular configuration endpoints within the application's interface, exposing the underlying system's sensitive operational parameters and configuration details.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a combination of authentication and navigation techniques that bypass proper access controls. An attacker must first establish valid credentials to authenticate to the ESC application, after which they can leverage the insufficient protection mechanisms to access configuration files that should remain restricted to authorized administrative personnel. This represents a classic case of inadequate access control enforcement where the application fails to properly validate access permissions for sensitive data resources, allowing for privilege escalation through legitimate application navigation paths. The vulnerability directly correlates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, specifically focusing on insufficient protection of sensitive data within web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed configuration files likely contain critical system parameters, network settings, and potentially sensitive credentials or cryptographic keys. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain comprehensive insights into the target environment's infrastructure, network topology, and operational configurations, which could then be leveraged for further attacks. The exposure of system configuration files may reveal internal network structures, service endpoints, and administrative access patterns that would otherwise remain hidden from external parties, significantly increasing the attack surface and providing valuable intelligence for subsequent exploitation phases.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's official security patches and updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing robust access control mechanisms and proper data protection measures within web applications, particularly those handling sensitive operational information. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their ESC deployments to ensure all systems are updated and verify that proper access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to configuration data. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the necessity for continuous security assessments and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that include proper access control validation and data protection mechanisms as outlined in security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards.