CVE-2018-0116 in Policy Suite
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the RADIUS authentication module of Cisco Policy Suite could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to be authorized as a subscriber without providing a valid password; however, the attacker must provide a valid username. The vulnerability is due to incorrect RADIUS user credential validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by attempting to access a Cisco Policy Suite domain configured with RADIUS authentication. An exploit could allow the attacker to be authorized as a subscriber without providing a valid password. This vulnerability affects the Cisco Policy Suite application running a release prior to 13.1.0 with Hotfix Patch 1 when RADIUS authentication is configured for a domain. Cisco Policy Suite Release 14.0.0 is also affected, as it includes vulnerable code, but RADIUS authentication is not officially supported in Cisco Policy Suite Releases 14.0.0 and later. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg40124.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0116 resides within the RADIUS authentication module of Cisco Policy Suite, representing a critical flaw in identity verification mechanisms that undermines the security posture of affected systems. This weakness manifests as an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to subscriber accounts without providing valid credentials, though the attacker must possess a legitimate username to exploit the flaw. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of RADIUS user credentials, creating a scenario where the authentication system fails to properly verify password authenticity, thereby permitting unauthorized access to network resources. The flaw specifically impacts Cisco Policy Suite versions prior to 13.1.0 with Hotfix Patch 1 and affects Release 14.0.0 despite the fact that RADIUS authentication is not officially supported in later versions, indicating a persistence of vulnerable code throughout multiple release cycles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic authentication bypass weakness that aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication scenarios where systems fail to properly verify credentials. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by initiating RADIUS authentication requests against domains configured with RADIUS authentication, effectively allowing them to authenticate as legitimate subscribers without presenting valid passwords. The operational impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform subscriber-level activities including but not limited to network access, service utilization, and potential lateral movement within the affected network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the attacker essentially leverages legitimate user accounts to gain unauthorized access to network resources. The attack vector requires minimal prerequisites beyond network connectivity and knowledge of valid usernames, making it relatively accessible to threat actors with basic technical capabilities. Organizations running affected Cisco Policy Suite versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where RADIUS authentication is configured, as the vulnerability effectively creates a backdoor that bypasses standard authentication controls. The presence of this vulnerability across multiple release versions indicates a systemic code issue that persisted despite development cycles, suggesting potential gaps in security testing and quality assurance processes. The fact that Cisco acknowledged this issue through Bug ID CSCvg40124 demonstrates recognition of the severity and impact of the flaw, particularly in environments where subscriber authentication is critical for network access control and user management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0116 should prioritize immediate deployment of available patches and hotfixes for affected Cisco Policy Suite versions, specifically targeting the 13.1.0 release with Hotfix Patch 1 or higher. Organizations should implement additional network segmentation controls and access restrictions to limit exposure, particularly by disabling RADIUS authentication where possible and implementing alternative authentication mechanisms. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous authentication patterns, and regular credential audits should be conducted to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting thorough security assessments of authentication systems, particularly in network infrastructure components that handle user access control. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to add additional layers of security beyond the vulnerable RADIUS authentication system, reducing the overall risk exposure associated with this and similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.