CVE-2018-0088 in Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series Switch
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in one of the diagnostic test CLI commands on Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series Switches running Cisco IOS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to impact the stability of the device. This could result in arbitrary code execution or a denial of service (DoS) condition. The attacker has to have valid user credentials at privilege level 15. The vulnerability is due to a diagnostic test CLI command that allows the attacker to write to the device memory. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the targeted device and issuing a specific diagnostic test command at the CLI. An exploit could allow the attacker to overwrite system memory locations, which could have a negative impact on the stability of the device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf71150.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0088 affects Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series Switches operating with Cisco IOS Software, representing a critical local privilege escalation issue that undermines device stability and security posture. This flaw resides within the diagnostic test command interface, specifically targeting the command line interpreter functionality that handles system diagnostics. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear weakness in input validation and memory management within the switch's operating system, where legitimate administrative commands can be manipulated to execute unintended memory operations. The affected devices are particularly susceptible due to their industrial networking role, where stability and reliability are paramount for operational technology environments, making this vulnerability especially concerning for critical infrastructure deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of diagnostic test commands within the command line interface, creating a path for memory corruption through crafted input sequences. When an authenticated user with privilege level 15 executes specific diagnostic commands, the system fails to properly sanitize input parameters, allowing memory write operations to occur at arbitrary memory addresses. This memory corruption capability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack vector requires local access with administrative privileges, but the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass system stability compromise and potential code execution. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in the CLI command processing mechanism, where the diagnostic test framework does not adequately validate memory access boundaries or command parameters before executing memory modification operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0088 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption in industrial environments. An attacker with privilege level 15 access can leverage this vulnerability to overwrite critical system memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete device instability. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Port/Service Discovery' and 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', while also demonstrating characteristics of T1210, 'Exploitation of Remote Services' through local privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in industrial settings where these switches form part of critical control systems, as device instability could lead to production line disruptions, safety system failures, or unauthorized access to operational technology networks. The potential for persistent compromise increases when considering that the vulnerability allows memory overwrite operations that could be used to modify system binaries or establish persistent backdoors within the device's memory structure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0088 should focus on immediate patch deployment through Cisco's official security advisories, as the vendor has addressed this vulnerability in subsequent software releases. Network administrators must ensure all affected industrial switches receive timely firmware updates, particularly in environments where operational technology systems require extended uptime and stability. Access control measures should be reinforced to limit the number of users with privilege level 15 access, implementing the principle of least privilege and regular credential rotation. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous CLI activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network access controls to restrict direct access to these switches from untrusted networks, combined with regular security audits of administrative accounts and command history reviews, provides layered protection against potential exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue emphasizes the importance of comprehensive access control policies and regular security assessments to prevent unauthorized administrative access to critical network infrastructure components.