CVE-2018-0350 in SD-WAN Solution
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the VPN subsystem configuration in the Cisco SD-WAN Solution could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and submitting crafted input to the affected parameter in a web page. The attacker must be authenticated to access the affected parameter. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands with root privileges. 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: CSCvi69808, CSCvi69810, CSCvi69814, CSCvi69822, CSCvi69827, CSCvi69828, CSCvi69836.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0350 represents a critical command injection flaw within the VPN subsystem configuration of Cisco's SD-WAN Solution ecosystem. This security weakness resides in the authentication and input validation mechanisms of several key Cisco networking products including vBond Orchestrator, various vEdge router series, vManage network management software, and vSmart Controller Software. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the web-based configuration interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands with the highest possible privileges. The flaw specifically affects devices running Cisco SD-WAN Solution releases prior to version 18.3.0, making legacy deployments particularly susceptible to exploitation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected network devices. An authenticated attacker who gains access to the web interface can craft malicious inputs that bypass input validation checks and subsequently execute commands with root privileges. This command injection capability allows for full system compromise, enabling attackers to modify network configurations, exfiltrate sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, or disrupt network operations. The attack vector requires only legitimate authentication credentials, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is granted to multiple users or where credentials may be compromised through phishing or other social engineering techniques. The vulnerability affects the entire SD-WAN management and control plane, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of critical network infrastructure.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how insufficient input validation can create severe privilege escalation pathways within network management systems. The attack requires minimal prerequisites beyond valid authentication credentials, making it accessible to threat actors who may already have some level of network access. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and represents a significant risk to network security postures. The affected products span multiple layers of the SD-WAN architecture, creating widespread potential impact across enterprise networks. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's security patches and updates, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the severe consequences that can arise from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data in privileged contexts. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network management interfaces and the implementation of robust access controls to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation.