CVE-2018-0274 in Network Services Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI parser of Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the root user. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious arguments into vulnerable commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the affected system. This vulnerability affects the following releases of Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO): 4.1 through 4.1.6.0, 4.2 through 4.2.4.0, 4.3 through 4.3.3.0, 4.4 through 4.4.2.0. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf99982.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0274 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Command Line Interface parser of Cisco Network Services Orchestrator version 4.1 through 4.4.2.0 releases. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied arguments before processing them within the system's shell execution context. The vulnerability specifically affects the NSO platform's CLI parsing functionality, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to manipulate the system's command execution flow through carefully crafted malicious inputs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the principle of insufficient input validation, which is classified under CWE-20 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. Attackers can leverage this flaw by injecting malicious command arguments into vulnerable CLI commands, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls. When the system processes these malformed inputs through its command parser, the injected shell commands execute with the elevated privileges of the root user, providing attackers with complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting command-line interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected NSO systems without requiring physical access or additional attack vectors. The affected versions span multiple minor releases, indicating this was a persistent issue that required multiple patch iterations to address. System administrators and network operators running these vulnerable releases face significant risk, as the vulnerability allows for persistent backdoor establishment, data exfiltration, system modification, and potential lateral movement within network infrastructure. The root privilege execution capability means attackers can manipulate system files, install malicious software, modify network configurations, and potentially establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0274 require immediate implementation of Cisco's official security patches and updates addressing the specific command injection vulnerability in the NSO CLI parser. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to NSO systems, enforce strict access controls, and disable unnecessary CLI functionality where possible. Regular security audits and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw emphasizes the importance of network monitoring for suspicious CLI activity and implementing robust logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Web Application Firewalls and input sanitization measures to protect against similar command injection vulnerabilities in other network services and applications.