CVE-2018-0468 in Energy Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the configuration of a local database installed as part of the Cisco Energy Management Suite (CEMS) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to access and alter confidential data. The vulnerability is due to the installation of the PostgreSQL database with unchanged default access credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to the machine where CEMS is installed and establishing a local connection to the database. The fix for this vulnerability randomizes the database access password in new installations; however, the fix will not change the password for existing installations. Users are required to manually change the password, as documented in the Workarounds section of this advisory. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0468 represents a critical configuration flaw within Cisco Energy Management Suite versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.2, where the embedded PostgreSQL database is deployed with default administrative credentials that remain unchanged post-installation. This configuration error creates a persistent security weakness that directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and default security hardening. The flaw exists because the installation process fails to implement proper credential management, leaving the database accessible with well-known default usernames and passwords that are widely documented within security communities and exploit frameworks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-798 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic example of poor security configuration management that has been consistently identified as a top risk in enterprise security assessments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal sophistication as an authenticated local attacker can simply establish a local connection to the PostgreSQL database service running on the CEMS server. Once connected, the attacker gains full administrative privileges over the database, enabling them to read, modify, or delete sensitive energy consumption data, configuration parameters, and potentially access other system information that may be stored within the database. The local nature of this attack means that the attacker must already have legitimate access to the system, but this requirement does not significantly limit the threat as it typically represents a compromise of a system account or a legitimate user with sufficient privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the dangerous consequences of failing to implement proper access control mechanisms during software deployment, particularly for database systems that contain sensitive operational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to potentially compromise the entire energy management system's operational security. Energy data stored in the database may include proprietary consumption patterns, infrastructure configurations, and potentially sensitive operational metrics that could be exploited for competitive advantage or strategic planning purposes. The vulnerability also creates a potential attack vector for lateral movement within networks where CEMS systems are deployed, as compromised database credentials could be used to access other systems or services that might share similar default configurations. Organizations using CEMS in industrial control environments face particular risk as this vulnerability could potentially impact operational technology systems and contribute to broader cybersecurity incidents that affect critical infrastructure operations.
Cisco's response to this vulnerability includes a partial remediation approach where new installations receive randomized database passwords, but existing installations require manual intervention to address the configuration issue. This remediation strategy reflects common challenges in security patching where legacy systems cannot be automatically updated without risking service disruption. The workaround documentation provided by Cisco addresses the specific issue of password management and emphasizes the importance of proper credential rotation as a security control. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized database access attempts and establish regular credential review processes. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of implementing automated security configuration checks during system deployment and regular security audits to identify and remediate similar configuration weaknesses across enterprise environments. This case demonstrates the critical importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for managing system configurations and access controls.