CVE-2019-12635 in Content Security Management Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the authorization module of Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to gain out-of-scope access to email. The vulnerability exists because the affected software does not correctly implement role permission controls. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using a custom role with specific permissions. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access the spam quarantine of other users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12635 resides within the authorization framework of Cisco Content Security Management Appliance software, representing a critical flaw in access control mechanisms that could enable authenticated remote attackers to bypass intended security boundaries. This issue manifests through improper implementation of role-based permission controls, creating a scenario where legitimate users with compromised credentials can escalate their privileges beyond their designated scope. The affected appliance serves as a central hub for email security management, processing and filtering millions of email communications across enterprise networks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the core functionality of email protection systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate enforcement of role-based access controls within the Cisco SMA software architecture, which falls under CWE-284 - Improper Access Control. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker to manipulate role assignments and permissions by leveraging a custom role that grants specific privileges not intended for standard user accounts. This misimplementation enables attackers to traverse the application's authorization boundaries and access email quarantine areas belonging to other users within the same organization. The vulnerability specifically affects the spam quarantine functionality, which contains potentially sensitive email communications and metadata that could be exploited for further attacks or information gathering.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise email security infrastructure as it enables attackers to access confidential email data that should remain isolated to specific users or groups. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as access to spam quarantines can provide attackers with insights into user email patterns, potentially revealing sensitive business communications, personal information, or even credentials embedded within quarantined messages. Attackers could leverage this access to conduct targeted phishing campaigns, gather intelligence for social engineering attacks, or identify potential targets for additional exploitation attempts. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or appliance, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed workforces or cloud-based email solutions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive review and restriction of custom role assignments, enforcement of principle of least privilege, and implementation of additional monitoring controls around access to quarantine areas. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it exploits legitimate authenticated access to escalate privileges beyond normal user boundaries. Network segmentation and enhanced logging of access attempts to sensitive quarantine areas should be implemented as defensive measures. Cisco has released patches and software updates addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates while conducting thorough security assessments of existing role configurations to ensure no unauthorized custom roles have been created that could potentially exploit this flaw.