CVE-2018-15425 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device with the privileges of the web server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15425 represents a critical command injection flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine version 2.4 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the ISE's web server component which operates with elevated privileges, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. The flaw exists in the authentication and authorization framework that governs access to the management interface, where insufficient sanitization of input parameters allows malicious payloads to be interpreted as system commands rather than benign user input. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the core security infrastructure of network access control systems that organizations rely upon for identity verification and access management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first establish valid authentication credentials to access the ISE management interface. Once authenticated, the attacker can manipulate input fields within the web interface to inject malicious command sequences that bypass the normal input validation processes. The underlying operating system executes these commands with the same privileges as the web server process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This privilege escalation allows the attacker to perform actions such as modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive data, installing malicious software, or even completely compromising the device. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77 as a Command Injection weakness, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary commands through untrusted input. The attack vector involves the manipulation of parameters within the web interface that are processed without proper sanitization, creating a direct pathway to system command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of networks protected by Cisco ISE. Organizations using affected versions of ISE face potential data breaches, unauthorized network access, and complete system compromise when this vulnerability is exploited. The web interface serves as a critical management point for identity services, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain persistent access to network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the entire ISE deployment, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system takeover and potential lateral movement within the network. Network segmentation and access control policies that rely on ISE for enforcement become ineffective when the underlying system is compromised, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and access protected resources. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity, with potential availability impacts through system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15425 focus on immediate remediation through official Cisco patches and updates. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Cisco ISE version 2.5 or later, which includes patches addressing the command injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit access to the ISE management interface, restricting administrative access to trusted networks and users only. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only necessary personnel have authentication credentials for the management interface. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious command execution patterns and configuring web application firewalls to filter potentially malicious input. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their ISE deployments and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, with potential techniques including T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1566 Phishing for Credential Access. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components. Organizations must also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access to further reduce the risk of unauthorized access to privileged management interfaces.