CVE-2018-0374 in Policy Suite
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Policy Builder database of Cisco Policy Suite before 18.2.0 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to connect directly to the Policy Builder database. The vulnerability is due to a lack of authentication. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting directly to the Policy Builder database. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access and change any data in the Policy Builder database. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh06134.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0374 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Policy Suite's Policy Builder database component. This weakness exists in versions prior to 18.2.0 and fundamentally undermines the system's access control mechanisms by failing to implement proper authentication protocols. The absence of authentication requirements creates an exploitable entry point that allows any remote attacker to establish direct connections to the database without requiring valid credentials or authorization. This configuration violates fundamental security principles and creates a significant risk surface for unauthorized access to sensitive policy data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the lack of authentication controls within the Policy Builder database interface. According to CWE-305 authentication bypass vulnerabilities, the system fails to properly verify the identity of connecting entities before granting access to database resources. This flaw operates at the network level where database connections are accepted without proper credential verification, effectively creating an open door for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects the database communication layer of Cisco Policy Suite, which is designed to manage and enforce security policies across network environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply establishing a database connection, bypassing all normal authentication procedures that should normally protect sensitive data repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete read and write privileges to the Policy Builder database. This comprehensive access allows adversaries to not only view sensitive policy configurations and security rules but also to modify or corrupt the entire database content. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where policy suites manage critical network security controls, access policies, and compliance configurations. An attacker could potentially modify security policies to weaken network defenses, inject malicious rules, or completely destroy policy configurations that protect organizational assets. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, as it allows unauthorized access to database resources that would normally require proper authentication. The impact affects both data integrity and availability, as attackers can modify or delete policy information that governs network security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0374 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch for Cisco Policy Suite version 18.2.0 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate the Policy Builder database from untrusted networks, thereby limiting potential attack vectors. Additional protective measures include configuring network access controls to restrict database connection ports, implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized database connection attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of database configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms in database systems, as highlighted by security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls that emphasize the need for secure authentication protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious database access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other database systems within the network infrastructure.