CVE-2018-0255 in Industrial Ethernet Switch
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the device manager web interface of Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack against a user of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient CSRF protection by the device manager web interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to follow a malicious link or visit an attacker-controlled website. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to submit arbitrary requests to an affected device via the device manager web interface with the privileges of the user. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) Switches if they are running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software: IE 2000 Series, IE 2000U Series, IE 3000 Series, IE 3010 Series, IE 4000 Series, IE 4010 Series, IE 5000 Series. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc96405.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0255 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches that exposes organizations to significant remote attack vectors. This flaw exists within the device manager web interface component of multiple industrial switch series, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to manipulate system operations through victim interactions with malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from inadequate CSRF protection mechanisms that fail to validate the origin of requests submitted through the web interface, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users who interact with compromised web pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on social engineering tactics where attackers craft malicious links or web pages designed to trigger unintended actions against the affected switches. When a user with valid credentials accesses an attacker-controlled website or clicks on a malicious hyperlink, the web interface automatically processes requests without proper validation of the request source. This allows the attacker to perform administrative functions such as configuration changes, firmware updates, or user management operations that would normally require authentication and proper authorization. The flaw specifically affects Cisco Industrial Ethernet switches across multiple product lines including IE 2000, IE 3000, IE 4000, and IE 5000 series, all of which operate on vulnerable releases of Cisco IOS Software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire industrial network infrastructures through cascading effects. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate switch configurations to redirect traffic, disable security features, or establish backdoor access points within the industrial network. This represents a significant threat to operational technology environments where network reliability and security are paramount, as the compromised switches could serve as entry points for more extensive attacks targeting industrial control systems. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where these switches are deployed in critical infrastructure applications such as manufacturing plants, power grid operations, or other industrial facilities where network availability and integrity are essential.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected switches from general network access, deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Cisco has released patches addressing this vulnerability through multiple software updates, and administrators should prioritize applying these patches to vulnerable systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing strong access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of industrial network components to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in operational technology environments.