CVE-2018-0349 in SD-WAN Solution
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco SD-WAN Solution could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the underlying operating system of an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper input validation of the request admin-tech command in the CLI of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by modifying the request admin-tech command in the CLI of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the underlying operating system of an affected device and escalate their privileges to the root user. 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, vEdge 100 Series Routers, vEdge 1000 Series Routers, vEdge 2000 Series Routers, vEdge 5000 Series Routers, vEdge Cloud Router Platform, vManage Network Management Software, vSmart Controller Software. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvi69852, CSCvi69856.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
This vulnerability resides within the Cisco SD-WAN Solution ecosystem where an authenticated remote attacker can manipulate the command line interface to execute arbitrary file overwrite operations on the underlying operating system. The flaw specifically manifests in the improper input validation mechanism of the request admin-tech command which fails to properly sanitize user inputs before processing them within the system. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input validation controls that should have been implemented to prevent malicious input from being directly interpreted by the system's command processing engine. This represents a classic case of command injection vulnerability where the system accepts unvalidated user input and executes it without proper sanitization or verification. The vulnerability affects multiple Cisco SD-WAN components including vBond Orchestrator Software, vEdge routers across multiple series, vManage Network Management Software, and vSmart Controller Software, all of which share the same underlying CLI processing mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can access the command line interface of the affected device and modify the request admin-tech command to include malicious input parameters. When the system processes this malformed command, it fails to validate the input properly and instead executes the modified command which allows for arbitrary file overwrite operations on the underlying operating system. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability occurs because the attacker can leverage the file overwrite capability to modify critical system files or binaries that would normally require root privileges to modify. This creates a path for attackers to gain root access to the device, effectively compromising the entire system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for both file system manipulation and privilege escalation within a single attack vector, making it a high-impact security flaw. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection and improper input validation respectively.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrite capabilities as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and security posture of the entire SD-WAN infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain root access to affected devices, potentially allowing them to modify routing configurations, access sensitive network data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. The implications are particularly severe for network management systems like vManage and vSmart controllers which serve as central points of control for the entire SD-WAN deployment. This vulnerability could enable attackers to disrupt network operations, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or gain access to confidential information flowing through the network. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making detection and prevention more challenging. Organizations using affected Cisco SD-WAN solutions face significant risk of compromise, particularly if they have not upgraded to the patched versions. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap that could be leveraged by sophisticated attackers to establish persistent access within enterprise networks. This aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence through file system modifications.
Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate deployment of Cisco's patched releases, specifically version 18.3.0 or later, which address the input validation flaws in the CLI processing mechanism. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to SD-WAN management interfaces and enforce strict access controls for administrative accounts. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that all affected devices have been properly updated and that no unauthorized modifications have occurred. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual CLI activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and disabling unnecessary administrative services can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough validation that all affected devices have been properly patched and that no legacy configurations remain that could be exploited. Security teams should monitor for any signs of compromise through network traffic analysis and system log reviews to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access controls within enterprise network infrastructure.