CVE-2018-7063 in ClearPass
Summary
by MITRE
In Aruba ClearPass, disabled API admins can still perform read/write operations. In certain circumstances, API admins in ClearPass which have been disabled may still be able to perform read/write operations on parts of the XML API. This can lead to unauthorized access to the API and complete compromise of the ClearPass instance if an attacker knows of the existence of these accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7063 represents a critical authorization flaw within Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager systems that directly undermines the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement. This weakness specifically affects the API administrative account management functionality, where disabled user accounts retain the ability to execute read and write operations through the XML API interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate session validation and account state management mechanisms that fail to properly revoke API access permissions when administrative accounts are disabled through the standard administrative process. This flaw creates a persistent security risk where terminated or disabled administrative privileges continue to operate within the system, effectively bypassing the intended access control measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the authentication and authorization lifecycle management within ClearPass. When an API administrator account is disabled through the administrative interface, the system should invalidate all active sessions and revoke API access tokens associated with that account. However, the flaw allows these disabled accounts to maintain active API connections and continue performing operations through the XML API endpoint. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates a scenario where account disabling becomes ineffective as a security control mechanism. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the API level, where administrative privileges can be leveraged to access sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, and potentially escalate privileges to full administrative control over the ClearPass instance.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7063 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to represent a complete compromise risk for organizations relying on Aruba ClearPass for network access control and policy enforcement. An attacker who discovers the existence of disabled API administrator accounts can exploit this vulnerability to gain persistent access to the system, potentially leading to data breaches, network disruption, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-668, which describes "Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere," where administrative resources are incorrectly exposed to unauthorized users. This flaw enables attackers to maintain unauthorized access even after legitimate administrative actions have been taken to disable compromised accounts, creating a false sense of security for system administrators who believe they have properly secured their environment.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves an attacker who has already gained knowledge of existing API administrator accounts or has performed reconnaissance to identify potentially disabled accounts that still maintain access. This scenario can occur through various means including social engineering, credential theft, or network reconnaissance that reveals the existence of administrative accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of secure by default configuration and proper privilege management. According to ATT&CK framework category T1078, which covers Valid Accounts, this vulnerability enables adversaries to use legitimate credentials to maintain persistent access to systems. Organizations may be unaware of the compromised accounts until an incident occurs, as the system does not automatically detect or alert on the continued use of disabled administrative accounts. The persistence of this access allows attackers to conduct long-term reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and system manipulation without detection, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ClearPass serves as a critical network access control solution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7063 require immediate implementation of both procedural and technical controls to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement regular security audits to identify and disable unused or orphaned administrative accounts, ensuring that all administrative privileges are properly revoked when accounts are no longer needed. The system should be configured to enforce immediate session invalidation upon account disabling, and administrators should be required to manually revoke API access tokens for disabled accounts. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual API activity patterns, particularly from accounts that should be inactive. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for API administrative accounts provides an additional layer of security that can help prevent unauthorized access even if account credentials are compromised. System administrators should also regularly review and audit API access logs to identify potential unauthorized use of administrative accounts, and implement automated alerts for any activity from disabled accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access lifecycle management and the need for regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws in network access control systems.