CVE-2018-0318 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the password reset function of Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning (PCP) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of a password reset request. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a password reset request and changing the password for any user on an affected system. An exploit could allow the attacker to gain administrative-level privileges on the affected system. This vulnerability affects Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning (PCP) Releases 11.6 and prior. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd07245.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0318 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning (PCP) software versions 11.6 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the password reset functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized remote attackers to compromise system security. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication flow where password reset requests are processed without proper verification of requester legitimacy, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the reset process. The flaw exists in the server-side validation logic that fails to adequately authenticate or authorize password reset attempts, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges through unauthorized administrative access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted password reset request that circumvents normal authentication checks. Attackers can submit malicious reset requests that modify user passwords without proper authorization, effectively gaining administrative control over the affected system. This weakness directly relates to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient validation of authentication tokens or session identifiers can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple password changes to full administrative control, as the compromised accounts can access sensitive configuration data, modify system parameters, and potentially exfiltrate confidential information. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of broken authentication where the system fails to properly verify the identity of users attempting to perform privileged operations.
Operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on Cisco PCP for collaboration infrastructure management. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that remote exploitation is possible without requiring any prior credentials or system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for networked environments. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical communication infrastructure, leading to potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanisms of the platform, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire collaboration ecosystem managed by Cisco PCP. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access points, modify user permissions, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the network. The impact is amplified when considering that Cisco PCP systems typically manage critical communication services, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking long-term access to enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0318 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cisco, specifically addressing the identified bug CSCvd07245. Organizations must implement network segmentation to limit access to PCP systems and apply firewall rules to restrict external communication with affected components. Additional protective measures include monitoring authentication logs for suspicious reset requests, implementing multi-factor authentication where possible, and conducting regular security assessments of collaboration infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication flow design as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to identify anomalous password reset patterns and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other systems using vulnerable PCP versions and ensure proper access controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized modifications to user accounts and system configurations.