CVE-2018-0146 in Data Center Analytics Framework
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Data Center Analytics Framework application could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to improper CSRF protection by the affected application. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the affected application to click a malicious link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to submit arbitrary requests and take unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg45114.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0146 resides within the Cisco Data Center Analytics Framework application, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the application's ability to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. This weakness stems from inadequate implementation of CSRF protection mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of the Data Center Analytics Framework, which serves as a central point for administrators to monitor and manage data center operations. The flaw manifests when the application fails to validate the origin of HTTP requests, permitting malicious actors to craft requests that appear legitimate to the target system. This issue is particularly concerning given the administrative privileges typically associated with data center analytics platforms, which often provide access to sensitive infrastructure monitoring and control functions.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious web page or link that, when clicked by an authenticated user, automatically submits requests to the vulnerable application. The attack leverages the user's existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions such as modifying configuration settings, accessing restricted data, or executing administrative commands. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince victims to interact with malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently browse external websites or receive email communications. The lack of proper CSRF token validation means that the application cannot distinguish between legitimate user-initiated requests and those generated by malicious third parties, creating a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to cause significant disruption to data center operations and compromise the integrity of monitoring systems. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to modify network configurations, alter monitoring parameters, or even disable critical analytics functions that provide visibility into data center performance and security. The consequences could include data corruption, unauthorized system changes, or the creation of backdoors that persist undetected within the network infrastructure. Given that the Data Center Analytics Framework typically operates within enterprise environments where security and compliance are paramount, this vulnerability could result in regulatory violations and substantial financial losses. The vulnerability affects Cisco Data Center Analytics Framework versions prior to 10.1.1, making organizations with older deployments particularly susceptible to exploitation. The attack requires minimal technical skill to execute, relying primarily on social engineering rather than advanced exploitation techniques, which increases the likelihood of successful compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their data center analytics environments. The primary remediation involves applying the official Cisco security patches that address the CSRF protection weakness in the affected application versions. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attack patterns. The implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms should be enforced across all web applications within the data center environment. Organizations should also conduct security awareness training to help users recognize and avoid potentially malicious links that could be used to exploit this vulnerability. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability impacts organizations that must adhere to standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which require proper session management and protection against unauthorized access. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and demonstrates the critical need for regular vulnerability assessments of administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and privileged access management solutions should also be reviewed to limit the potential impact should an attacker successfully exploit this vulnerability.