CVE-2018-0269 in Digital Network Architecture Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of the Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to communicate with the Kong API server without restriction. The vulnerability is due to an overly permissive Cross Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) policy. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by convincing a user to follow a malicious link. An exploit could allow the attacker to communicate with the API and exfiltrate sensitive information. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh99208.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0269 resides within the web framework of Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center DNA Center, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the platform's API protection mechanisms. This issue stems from an inadequately configured Cross Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) policy that fails to properly restrict access to the Kong API server, creating an avenue for unauthorized communication. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication mechanisms within the DNA Center platform, where the overly permissive CORS configuration allows external domains to interact with the internal API endpoints without proper authorization. The flaw manifests when the system accepts requests from any origin domain without validating the requesting party's legitimacy, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries that should protect sensitive network infrastructure data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated social engineering attack vector where an attacker crafts a malicious link designed to trigger unauthorized API communication with the Kong server. This attack method leverages the browser's CORS implementation to establish communication channels that would normally be blocked by proper security policies. When a user clicks on the malicious link, the browser's CORS policy enforcement fails to prevent the unauthorized communication, allowing the attacker to establish a communication channel with the API server. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to potentially exfiltrate sensitive network configuration data, user credentials, and infrastructure details that should remain protected within the DNA Center environment.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and far-reaching, particularly for organizations that rely heavily on Cisco DNA Center for network management and orchestration. Attackers exploiting this flaw could gain access to critical network infrastructure information, potentially compromising the entire network security posture. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means that no valid credentials are required to exploit the issue, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized access privileges. Organizations using DNA Center for managing complex network environments face significant risk of data breaches, as the compromised API access could provide attackers with detailed insights into network topology, device configurations, and security policies. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising Confidentiality through unauthorized data access and Integrity through potential manipulation of network management operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0269 must address the core CORS policy configuration issue within the DNA Center platform. Organizations should immediately implement proper CORS header restrictions that limit API access to trusted domains only, ensuring that the Access-Control-Allow-Origin header contains specific domain values rather than wildcard characters. The recommended approach involves configuring the API server to validate the origin header against a predefined whitelist of approved domains, thereby preventing unauthorized cross-origin requests from external parties. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as IP-based access restrictions, enhanced monitoring of API access patterns, and regular security assessments of the web framework components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-346, which addresses "Origin Validation Error" in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, specifically targeting API endpoints and web services. Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through software updates that properly configure CORS policies, and organizations should ensure they apply the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.