CVE-2018-0382 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the session identification management functionality of the web-based interface of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to hijack a valid user session on an affected system. The vulnerability exists because the affected software does not properly clear previously assigned session identifiers for a user session when a user authenticates to the web-based interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using an existing session identifier to connect to the software through the web-based interface. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to hijack an authenticated user's browser session on the system. Versions 8.1 and 8.5 are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0382 represents a critical session management flaw within Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software that directly compromises the integrity of user authentication processes. This weakness exists in the web-based interface of affected WLC versions 8.1 and 8.5, where the system fails to properly invalidate or clear session identifiers when users authenticate through the web interface. The flaw allows attackers to exploit a fundamental security principle of session management by leveraging previously assigned session tokens that should have been terminated upon successful authentication. This vulnerability falls under the category of session fixation attacks as outlined in CWE-384, where the system does not adequately handle session token lifecycle management. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication from the attacker, making it an unauthenticated remote exploit that can be executed from any location with network access to the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper session identifier handling within the web-based management interface of the Cisco WLC software. When a user successfully authenticates to the web interface, the system should invalidate the previous session identifier and generate a new one to prevent session hijacking attempts. However, the affected software fails to execute this critical cleanup process, leaving stale session tokens active and potentially usable by unauthorized parties. This flaw creates a window of opportunity where an attacker who has obtained a valid session identifier can reuse it to impersonate an authenticated user. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper session management as defined by security standards, allowing for unauthorized access to administrative functions that should be restricted to legitimate users only. The impact is particularly severe because it directly undermines the authentication mechanism itself, providing attackers with persistent access to the system's management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to maintain persistent control over the affected wireless network infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to hijack active user sessions, potentially gaining access to sensitive network configuration data, user management functions, and other administrative capabilities available through the WLC web interface. This type of session hijacking attack aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 tactic, specifically targeting credential access and privilege escalation through session management weaknesses. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that it affects critical network infrastructure components, potentially allowing attackers to modify wireless network settings, disable security features, or establish persistent backdoors within the enterprise wireless environment. Organizations utilizing affected WLC versions face significant risk of unauthorized network compromise, particularly in environments where wireless network management is critical to business operations and security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0382 should focus on immediate remediation through official Cisco security patches and updates, as well as implementing additional security controls to limit exposure. Organizations should prioritize updating their WLC software to versions that address this specific session management flaw, following Cisco's security advisory recommendations. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to restrict direct access to WLC web interfaces from untrusted networks, while implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication can provide defense-in-depth. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper session lifecycle management and demonstrates why organizations must regularly audit their authentication and session management implementations against established security standards. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious session activity patterns and unauthorized access attempts to web-based management interfaces, while regular security assessments should verify that session management functions operate correctly according to security best practices. Organizations should also consider implementing automated session timeout mechanisms and ensuring that session identifiers are properly invalidated upon user logout or authentication events to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their network infrastructure.