CVE-2018-0460 in Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the REST API of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to read any file on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization and parameter validation checks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious API request with the authentication credentials of a low-privileged user. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read any file on the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0460 resides within the REST API implementation of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software version 3.6.0 and earlier releases. This critical security flaw represents a significant authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect network infrastructure systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the NFVIS platform which serves as a critical component in enterprise network virtualization deployments, managing virtual network functions and infrastructure resources across organizations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization mechanisms within the REST API endpoints. The system fails to properly validate user inputs and authenticate access requests, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation through crafted API requests. This weakness allows an authenticated attacker with minimal privileges to manipulate API parameters and gain unauthorized access to file system resources. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes file access requests without adequate validation of the requested file paths or user permissions, enabling path traversal attacks against the underlying file system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise network infrastructure security as it allows attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially administrative credentials stored on the affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could potentially extract system logs, network configuration files, or even sensitive cryptographic keys that could compromise the entire network infrastructure. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even users with basic access rights could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access and potentially gain full system control, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have legitimate access to the system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) categories, representing classic path traversal and authorization bypass flaws that have plagued network infrastructure systems for years. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1005 (Data from Local System) as attackers can leverage legitimate credentials to access restricted system resources. Organizations running affected NFVIS versions face significant exposure risks, particularly in environments where network virtualization is critical for business operations and where the system contains sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available software versions that contain proper authorization controls and input validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the REST API endpoints to trusted networks only. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of their NFVIS deployments to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws in other system components. Regular security testing including API security assessments and penetration testing should be implemented to identify potential similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Additionally, monitoring and logging of API access requests should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.