CVE-2019-15976 in Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the authentication mechanisms of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary actions with administrative privileges on an affected device. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15976 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Cisco Data Center Network Manager, a network management platform designed to oversee and control data center network infrastructure. This weakness specifically targets the authentication mechanisms that are fundamental to securing administrative access to the system, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on DCNM for their network operations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Cisco DCNM software and exposes the platform to unauthorized remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient validation of authentication credentials within the DCNM service components. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass the standard authentication procedures that normally require valid credentials for administrative access. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected device without needing legitimate login credentials. This authentication bypass occurs at the application layer and leverages weaknesses in how the system processes and validates authentication requests, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate session management and access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-15976 is severe and far-reaching for organizations using Cisco DCNM in their data center environments. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, unauthorized network configuration changes, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical network services. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited network segmentation. The vulnerability affects the core network management functionality, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate network policies, access sensitive configuration data, and disrupt network operations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the authentication bypass mechanisms through proper credential validation and session management updates. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of DCNM systems to untrusted networks. Monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts should be enhanced, with security teams implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to network infrastructure.
Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing multi-factor authentication where possible, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of DCNM deployments. Network administrators should review and restrict administrative access to only essential personnel while maintaining detailed audit logs of all administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust network access controls to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management systems. Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authentication weaknesses in other network management platforms.