CVE-2018-0459 in Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected system to reboot or shut down. The vulnerability is due to insufficient server-side authorization checks. An attacker who is logged in to the web-based management interface as a low-privileged user could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to use the low-privileged user account to reboot or shut down the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0459 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software, a critical component in network function virtualization deployments. This software serves as the management plane for virtualized network services, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt network operations. The flaw manifests as insufficient server-side authorization checks that fail to properly validate user privileges before executing critical system operations. This weakness specifically affects the NFVIS platform which is designed to manage and orchestrate virtualized network functions across enterprise networks, creating a significant risk when exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTTP requests that bypass normal authorization mechanisms within the web interface. An attacker must first establish authentication with the system using a low-privileged account, which represents a common attack vector as many organizations maintain default accounts with minimal permissions for operational tasks. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user permissions during system shutdown and reboot operations, allowing unauthorized requests to proceed with elevated privileges. This represents a classic authorization bypass flaw that aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization in software systems. The flaw enables what security researchers categorize as a privilege escalation attack, where limited access is leveraged to gain control over critical system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system disruption to encompass potential service degradation and business continuity risks. Network administrators rely on the stability and availability of NFVIS platforms to manage virtualized network services, making unauthorized reboots or shutdowns particularly damaging. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause complete service outages, forcing network operators to manually restart systems and potentially lose configuration data. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects the web interface, which is typically accessible from remote locations and may be exposed to the internet. This makes the system vulnerable to automated attacks and increases the potential for widespread disruption across enterprise networks that depend on NFVIS for their virtualized infrastructure management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to the NFVIS web interface through network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted networks only. Regular security audits should verify that all administrative accounts maintain appropriate privilege levels and that unnecessary access is removed from low-privileged accounts. Cisco has released patches addressing this vulnerability through security advisories that should be deployed immediately across all affected systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not disrupt existing network operations while maintaining the integrity of the authorization mechanisms. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual shutdown patterns or unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization controls in management interfaces and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access.