CVE-2019-12690 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web UI of the Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with the privileges of the root user of the underlying operating system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input to the web UI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted input in the web UI. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device with full root privileges.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12690 resides within the web user interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center, a critical network security platform designed for firewall and intrusion prevention services. This weakness represents a severe authorization bypass and command injection flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web UI components, creating an attack vector that allows authenticated remote adversaries to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level system access. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as this flaw enables attackers to gain complete control over the underlying operating system, effectively compromising the entire network security infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input permits malicious payloads to be processed and executed within the system context. The vulnerability specifically affects the web UI's handling of user-provided data, allowing attackers to manipulate input fields and submit crafted commands that are subsequently executed with elevated privileges. This flaw operates under the broader category of CWE-77 and CWE-94, representing command injection vulnerabilities that permit arbitrary code execution. The attack requires only authentication to the web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by both internal and external threat actors who have gained legitimate access credentials. The root-level execution capability means that attackers can manipulate system files, modify network configurations, disable security features, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-12690 is profound and far-reaching for organizations relying on Cisco Firepower Management Center deployments. Once exploited, attackers can completely compromise the security appliance, potentially gaining access to sensitive network data, intercepting communications, and modifying firewall rules to allow malicious traffic. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of the system, which means that network administrators lose control over their security infrastructure. This flaw creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to establish backdoors, exfiltrate data, or disrupt network operations. The attack surface extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential lateral movement within the network, as the compromised management center could provide attackers with insights into network topology and security configurations. Organizations may experience significant downtime, regulatory compliance violations, and potential data breaches that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12690 should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of network segmentation controls. Cisco released security advisories and patches addressing this vulnerability, which organizations must deploy promptly to eliminate the risk. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring for the web UI, including limiting access to trusted IP addresses and enabling multi-factor authentication. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting user permissions and regularly auditing access logs for suspicious activities. Security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their network security infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and command execution techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures including network segmentation, behavioral monitoring, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls to prevent similar injection attacks across their network infrastructure.