CVE-2018-0463 in Network Services Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Network Plug and Play server component of Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to configuration data that is stored on an affected NSO system. The vulnerability exists because the Network Plug and Play component performs incomplete validation when configured to use secure unique device identifiers (SUDI) for authentication. An attacker who controls a Cisco device that supports SUDI authentication and has connectivity to an affected NSO system could exploit this vulnerability. The attacker would need to leverage information about the devices that are being registered on the NSO server to send crafted Cisco Network Plug and Play authentication packets to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access to configuration data for devices that will be managed by the NSO system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0463 resides within the Cisco Network Plug and Play server component of the Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) platform, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of device authentication processes. This flaw specifically impacts the Secure Unique Device Identifier (SUDI) authentication mechanism, which is designed to provide secure device registration and management within network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from incomplete validation procedures within the Network Plug and Play component, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass intended security controls. The attack vector requires an attacker to possess control over a Cisco device that supports SUDI authentication and maintain network connectivity to the vulnerable NSO system, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with distributed network deployments where device control may be compromised.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a fundamental flaw in the SUDI authentication validation process where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of device identifiers during the registration process. When devices attempt to register with the NSO system using SUDI, the system should validate that the device possesses legitimate credentials and is authorized to connect to the network management infrastructure. However, the incomplete validation mechanism allows attackers to craft malicious authentication packets that appear to originate from legitimate devices, effectively enabling them to impersonate authorized network equipment. This weakness directly relates to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant deviation from proper access control implementation. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, exploiting weaknesses in how the NSO system processes and validates authentication tokens, creating a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data stored within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0463 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to extract critical configuration information from managed network devices, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures. Configuration data obtained through this vulnerability could include sensitive information such as device passwords, network topology details, routing configurations, and other operational parameters that would enable sophisticated attacks including lateral movement, privilege escalation, and network reconnaissance. The implications are particularly severe for organizations using NSO for network automation and orchestration, as attackers could leverage this access to manipulate device configurations, disable security controls, or establish persistent access points within the network. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement, as successful exploitation effectively provides attackers with legitimate access credentials for network management systems. The potential for cascading security breaches makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where NSO systems manage hundreds or thousands of network devices.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the incomplete validation issue in the Network Plug and Play component. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit connectivity between NSO systems and potentially compromised devices, while implementing additional authentication layers beyond SUDI for critical network components. The mitigation approach should also include monitoring network traffic for suspicious authentication patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their NSO configurations to ensure that SUDI authentication is properly implemented and that unnecessary device registration capabilities are disabled. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication validation mechanisms and demonstrates the critical need for robust security controls in network management systems, particularly those handling sensitive configuration data for enterprise networks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for NSO management interfaces and establishing strict access controls for configuration data to minimize the potential impact of similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.