CVE-2019-12683 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary SQL injections on an affected device. These vulnerabilities exist due to improper input validation. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted SQL queries to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view information that they are not authorized to view, make changes to the system that they are not authorized to make, and execute commands within the underlying operating system that may affect the availability of the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The Cisco Firepower Management Center represents a critical component in enterprise network security infrastructure serving as a centralized management platform for firewalls and security appliances. This system provides administrators with a web-based interface to configure, monitor, and manage multiple security devices across the network. The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-12683 specifically targets this management interface, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise the entire security posture of organizations relying on the platform. The affected software versions expose a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms that directly impacts the system's ability to process user-supplied data safely.
The technical flaw manifests as improper input validation within the web-based management interface of the Cisco Firepower Management Center software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into database queries. The authentication requirement for exploitation suggests that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once authenticated, they can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability exists because the system does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could alter the intended SQL query structure, allowing malicious input to be interpreted as executable code rather than simple data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access to encompass complete system compromise within the attacker's reach. Successful exploitation enables an authenticated attacker to perform unauthorized actions including reading sensitive configuration data, modifying system settings, and executing arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. This capability fundamentally undermines the integrity and availability of the security infrastructure, as attackers could potentially disable security features, modify firewall rules, or extract confidential information about network topology and security policies. The attack could result in complete system compromise where the attacker gains elevated privileges equivalent to those of authorized administrators.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability effectively. Immediate remediation involves applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address the input validation flaws in the web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only. The principle of least privilege must be enforced through strict authentication mechanisms and role-based access controls to minimize potential damage from compromised accounts. Monitoring and logging of management interface activities should be enhanced to detect suspicious SQL injection attempts or unusual administrative activities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring tools can provide additional detection capabilities for anomalous SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS and demonstrates how management interfaces serve as prime targets for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise security infrastructure.