CVE-2018-0462 in Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the user management functionality of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack against an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-provided input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in with a highly privileged user account and performing a sequence of specific user management operations that interfere with the underlying operating system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to permanently degrade the functionality of the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0462 resides within Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) user management functionality, representing a critical security weakness that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the insufficient validation mechanisms implemented in user management operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit legitimate administrative privileges and manipulate system resources. The flaw manifests when privileged users perform specific sequences of user management tasks that directly interfere with the underlying operating system processes, ultimately leading to permanent degradation of system functionality. The vulnerability operates within the context of network virtualization infrastructure where NFVIS serves as the management platform for enterprise network functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt critical network services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the user management subsystem of NFVIS, which fails to properly sanitize or verify user-provided data during administrative operations. This weakness allows an attacker with valid administrative credentials to craft specific sequences of user management commands that manipulate system resources in ways that were not anticipated by the software design. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation," a fundamental weakness that occurs when software does not properly validate input data, leading to potential system compromise. The attacker must possess authenticated access with high-privileged credentials to exploit this vulnerability, but once achieved, the attack can result in persistent system degradation that affects the core functionality of the network virtualization infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise network infrastructure as it allows attackers to permanently compromise the functionality of NFVIS systems, potentially disrupting critical network services and virtualized network functions. The attack vector requires only remote access with administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from anywhere within the network perimeter. The permanent degradation aspect of the vulnerability means that system recovery may require complete reinstallation or restoration from backups, resulting in extended downtime and potential business disruption. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of network virtualization services, which are critical components of modern enterprise network architectures. The attack can affect multiple network functions simultaneously, as the underlying operating system interference can cascade through interconnected services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0462 should focus on implementing strict input validation controls within the user management subsystem, along with enhanced monitoring and logging of administrative operations. Organizations should ensure that all user management functions properly sanitize input data and implement proper access controls to limit the scope of potentially harmful operations. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to minimize the impact of compromised administrative accounts. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should immediately apply these security updates to prevent exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1499, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1078, which addresses "Valid Accounts," highlighting the need for both system hardening and account monitoring. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, as this represents a common class of vulnerabilities that can be exploited to achieve persistent system compromise.