CVE-2018-15432 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the server backup function of Cisco Prime Infrastructure could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information. The vulnerability is due to the transmission of sensitive information as part of a GET request. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a GET request to a vulnerable device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15432 resides within the server backup functionality of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, a comprehensive network management platform used by organizations to monitor and manage their network infrastructure. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that undermines the confidentiality of sensitive data through improper information handling practices. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the system processes backup operations, creating an avenue for authenticated remote attackers to access confidential information that should remain protected.
The technical flaw manifests through the insecure transmission of sensitive data within GET requests, which violates fundamental principles of secure communications and data protection. When the backup function processes requests, it inadvertently exposes confidential information as part of the request parameters, making this data accessible to any attacker who can authenticate to the system. This design flaw directly correlates to CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and represents a classic case of improper information flow control. The vulnerability allows attackers to construct specific GET requests that, when sent to the affected device, reveal sensitive operational data through the backup mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with potentially valuable information for further exploitation attempts. An authenticated attacker with access to the system can leverage this weakness to gather sensitive configuration details, user credentials, network topology information, or other operational data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability enables adversaries to perform reconnaissance activities without requiring additional privileges or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Cisco Prime Infrastructure serves as a central management point for critical network operations. The ability to view sensitive information through a simple GET request demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation.
Organizations affected by CVE-2018-15432 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates as released through their official channels. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional controls such as restricting access to backup functions, monitoring for unusual GET request patterns, and ensuring that authentication mechanisms are properly configured to limit access to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of system information, as attackers can use this flaw to gather sensitive data about the network infrastructure. Organizations should also review their backup configurations to ensure that sensitive information is not transmitted in cleartext or exposed through web interfaces, implementing proper encryption and access controls to prevent similar issues in the future.