CVE-2018-0285 in Prime Service Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in service logging for Cisco Prime Service Catalog could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to deny service to the user interface. The vulnerability is due to exhaustion of disk space. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by performing certain operations that lead to excessive logging. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deny service to the user interface. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd39568.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0285 resides within Cisco Prime Service Catalog's logging service functionality, representing a critical denial-of-service weakness that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers. This issue stems from inadequate resource management within the system's logging mechanisms, specifically targeting the disk space allocation that powers the service catalog's operational logging capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the availability of the user interface, rendering the service catalog essentially inaccessible to legitimate users while maintaining the system's underlying operational integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through excessive disk space consumption caused by the logging service's failure to properly manage log file sizes and rotation policies. When an authenticated attacker performs specific operations within the service catalog environment, these actions trigger a cascade of logging activities that rapidly consume available disk storage space. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 as an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption weakness, where the system fails to implement proper resource limits or monitoring for logging operations. This particular implementation flaw allows for continuous log file growth without automatic cleanup or size constraints, creating an exploitable condition where disk space exhaustion leads to complete service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be repeatedly exploited to maintain denial-of-service conditions. Attackers can systematically consume disk space through repeated operations that generate logging entries, ultimately leading to a state where the user interface becomes completely inaccessible. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, as it leverages resource exhaustion to deny access to network services. The disruption affects not only user interface accessibility but also potentially impacts the entire service catalog infrastructure, as many system components depend on available disk space for proper operation and logging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0285 should focus on implementing robust resource management policies within the logging subsystem. Organizations should establish automatic log rotation mechanisms with size-based limits and retention policies to prevent uncontrolled disk space consumption. The implementation of monitoring alerts for disk space utilization can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through software updates that include enhanced logging controls and resource management features. Network administrators should also implement access controls and monitoring of administrative operations to detect and prevent unauthorized exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular disk space monitoring and automated cleanup procedures should be deployed to maintain system availability and prevent exploitation of this resource exhaustion vulnerability.