CVE-2018-0375 in Policy Suite
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cluster Manager of Cisco Policy Suite before 18.2.0 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected system using the root account, which has default, static user credentials. The vulnerability is due to the presence of undocumented, static user credentials for the root account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the account to log in to an affected system. An exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected system and execute arbitrary commands as the root user. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh02680.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0375 resides within the Cluster Manager component of Cisco Policy Suite versions prior to 18.2.0, representing a critical authentication flaw that fundamentally undermines system security through the use of default static credentials. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials, which is a well-documented weakness that has been consistently flagged in security assessments and penetration testing frameworks. The flaw specifically targets the root account, which is the most privileged user account in Unix-like systems and provides complete administrative control over the affected system. The presence of undocumented static credentials for the root account creates a backdoor that bypasses all normal authentication mechanisms and provides attackers with immediate administrative access to the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort from an attacker since the credentials are static and known, eliminating the need for password spraying or brute force attacks that would typically be required to gain access to systems with dynamic authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's remote nature means that an unauthenticated attacker can directly connect to the affected system without requiring any prior access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where such systems might be exposed to the internet. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of default credentials as a method for gaining initial access and subsequently escalating privileges within the compromised system. The exploitation process is straightforward and does not require sophisticated tools or advanced technical knowledge, making it accessible to attackers of varying skill levels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation grants attackers complete control over the affected system and its resources. Once authenticated as the root user, an attacker can execute arbitrary commands, modify system files, install malware, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The static nature of these credentials means that once discovered, they remain effective indefinitely unless manually changed, providing persistent access to the attacker. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in various industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which emphasize the importance of using unique and dynamic credentials for all system accounts. The default configuration of the system creates a false sense of security while simultaneously providing a clear path for attackers to achieve their objectives with minimal effort and risk of detection.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations that include updating to Cisco Policy Suite version 18.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the hardcoded credentials issue. The remediation process should also involve auditing system configurations to ensure that no other static credentials exist within the environment and implementing proper credential management practices. Security teams should monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation attempts and consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper configuration management and the dangers of leaving default credentials in place, particularly for accounts with root-level privileges. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential hardcoded credentials or default accounts within their infrastructure, as similar vulnerabilities may exist in other networked systems and applications.