CVE-2018-0345 in SD-WAN Solution
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the configuration and management database of the Cisco SD-WAN Solution could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the vmanage user in the configuration management system of the affected software. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of command arguments that are passed to the configuration and management database of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating custom functions that contain malicious code and are executed as the vmanage user of the configuration management system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the vmanage user in the configuration management system of the affected software. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco products if they are running a release of the Cisco SD-WAN Solution prior to Release 18.3.0: vBond Orchestrator Software, vManage Network Management Software, vSmart Controller Software. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvi69937.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0345 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Cisco SD-WAN Solution configuration and management database system. This weakness exists in the vManage network management software and affects the broader SD-WAN ecosystem including vBond Orchestrator and vSmart Controller components. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize command arguments passed to the underlying database system. This configuration oversight creates a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to escalate privileges and execute malicious code with the elevated privileges of the vmanage user account. The affected software versions prior to Release 18.3.0 demonstrate a fundamental failure in implementing proper security controls for command processing within the management infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a specific attack pattern that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, which respectively address command injection and code injection flaws. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting custom functions containing malicious code that get executed within the context of the vmanage user account. This privilege escalation vector allows adversaries to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network management functions and potentially compromise the entire SD-WAN infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires only authentication credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by attackers who have legitimate access to the system but lack administrative privileges. The attack chain typically involves creating malicious payloads that bypass existing security controls and execute with the privileges of the configuration management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise of the SD-WAN management infrastructure. Network administrators who rely on vManage for orchestrating and managing their SD-WAN deployments face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical network configuration data and operational controls. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by potentially compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through unauthorized configuration changes, and availability through potential disruption of management functions. The affected products represent core components of the SD-WAN solution architecture, meaning a successful exploitation could result in complete loss of control over the network management system and subsequent impact on network operations and security posture.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0345 primarily focus on implementing the official Cisco software updates and patches released in version 18.3.0 and subsequent releases. Organizations should immediately upgrade their vManage, vBond, and vSmart components to versions that address this vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization of command arguments. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit authentication access to only authorized personnel and systems. Additionally, implementing monitoring and logging controls around configuration management functions can help detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following the principle of least privilege and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect critical management infrastructure from both internal and external threats. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict remote access to management systems and ensure that only trusted network segments can communicate with the SD-WAN management components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust input validation and secure coding practices in enterprise network management systems.