CVE-2018-0362 in 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute System
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in BIOS authentication management of Cisco 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute System and Cisco Unified Computing (UCS) E-Series Servers could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to bypass the BIOS authentication and execute actions as an unprivileged user. The vulnerability is due to improper security restrictions that are imposed by the affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting an empty password value to an affected device's BIOS authentication prompt. An exploit could allow the attacker to have access to a restricted set of user-level BIOS commands. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh83260.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0362 represents a critical weakness in the BIOS authentication mechanisms of Cisco's 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute System and UCS E-Series Servers. This flaw resides in the system's authentication management framework where inadequate security restrictions have been implemented, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security posture of these enterprise-grade computing platforms. The vulnerability specifically affects the BIOS authentication prompt functionality, which serves as a critical control point for system access and configuration management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a simple yet effective method involving the submission of an empty password value to the affected device's BIOS authentication interface. This particular attack vector demonstrates a fundamental design flaw where the system fails to properly validate authentication credentials, particularly when encountering null or empty inputs. The improper handling of empty password submissions creates a bypass mechanism that allows unauthorized local access to restricted BIOS command sets. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and authentication logic that should have enforced proper credential verification before granting access to privileged system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with access to a restricted set of user-level BIOS commands that could potentially be leveraged for further system compromise. While the initial access is limited to unprivileged user-level commands, the vulnerability creates a foothold that could enable attackers to manipulate system configuration settings, potentially leading to more severe consequences such as persistent backdoor installation or system stability compromise. The local nature of the attack means that physical access to the device is required, but this limitation does not mitigate the severity of the vulnerability given the potential for system-level command execution.
Cisco's identification of this issue under Bug ID CSCvh83260 acknowledges the significance of the authentication bypass flaw within their product ecosystem. The vulnerability demonstrates poor adherence to security by design principles, where authentication mechanisms should fail securely when presented with invalid inputs rather than allowing access through unintended pathways. This weakness aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a failure in implementing proper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" through local system access and command execution capabilities.
Organizations deploying Cisco 5000 Series and UCS E-Series servers should prioritize immediate remediation through available software updates and patches provided by Cisco. Additionally, implementing physical security controls to limit local access to these systems can serve as a compensating control while awaiting official patches. Network segmentation and monitoring of BIOS-level activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive authentication testing and input validation in firmware and BIOS components, as these low-level systems often receive less security scrutiny despite their critical role in overall system security.