CVE-2018-0335 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web portal authentication process of Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to view sensitive data. The vulnerability is due to improper logging of authentication data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by monitoring a specific World-Readable file for this authentication data (Cleartext Passwords). An exploit could allow the attacker to gain authentication information for other users. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd86602.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0335 resides within Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning's web portal authentication mechanism, representing a critical security weakness that compromises user data confidentiality. This flaw specifically targets the authentication process where sensitive information is improperly handled, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized access to privileged systems. The vulnerability manifests through inadequate logging practices that fail to properly secure authentication data, thereby exposing critical system credentials to potential attackers who can intercept and utilize this information for unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper logging procedures that store authentication data in a world-readable file format, which directly violates fundamental security principles for credential handling. This misconfiguration creates a clear text password exposure scenario where attackers can monitor specific system files without requiring authentication credentials to access sensitive information. The flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices outlined in CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. The attacker's exploitation process involves simple file monitoring techniques to capture authentication tokens and passwords that should remain protected within secure system boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain access to other users' authentication information, potentially leading to widespread system compromise. This creates a cascading security risk where a single compromised credential can provide access to multiple user accounts and system resources. The local attacker requirement reduces the complexity of exploitation while simultaneously increasing the potential damage, as local access often provides more opportunities for further system infiltration and privilege escalation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as it allows adversaries to leverage legitimate user credentials obtained through improper logging practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0335 must address the root cause through proper logging configuration and file access controls that prevent world-readable permissions on authentication-related files. Organizations should implement strict file permission controls using secure baseline configurations that ensure authentication data is stored in protected locations with appropriate access controls. The remediation process requires immediate patching of affected Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning versions and implementation of proper logging practices that encrypt or obfuscate sensitive data before storage. Additionally, security monitoring should include regular audits of file permissions and access logs to detect unauthorized access to sensitive system files, aligning with security frameworks that emphasize continuous monitoring and access control enforcement as core defensive measures.