CVE-2019-16012 in SD-WAN Solution vManage
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco SD-WAN Solution vManage software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct SQL injection attacks on an affected system. The vulnerability exists because the web UI improperly validates SQL values. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the application and sending malicious SQL queries to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to modify values on, or return values from, the underlying database as well as the operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16012 resides within the web user interface of Cisco SD-WAN Solution vManage software, representing a critical security weakness that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute SQL injection attacks against affected systems. This flaw specifically targets the validation mechanisms implemented within the web interface, where input parameters are not adequately sanitized before being processed by the underlying database engine. The vulnerability affects organizations utilizing Cisco's software-defined wide area networking solutions, which are deployed in enterprise environments to manage and optimize network traffic across distributed infrastructures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web UI components that handle user-supplied data. When authenticated users interact with the vManage interface, malicious SQL payloads can be injected through various input fields that do not properly sanitize or escape user-provided values before executing database queries. This improper validation creates an attack surface where an authenticated attacker can manipulate the database query execution context, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. The vulnerability manifests as a classic SQL injection flaw, which aligns with CWE-89, a well-documented weakness in software systems where user input is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform comprehensive database operations including data retrieval, modification, and deletion. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information such as user credentials, network configuration details, and operational data from the vManage database. Furthermore, the vulnerability may allow for privilege escalation attacks where the attacker could gain elevated system privileges on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of attack vector represents a significant threat to network security infrastructure, as vManage systems typically contain critical network management data and may serve as central points of control for enterprise-wide SD-WAN deployments. The attack could be classified under ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would need to identify valid input points and potentially map the database structure before executing successful payloads.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Cisco's official security patches and updates, which address the input validation deficiencies in the web UI components. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit authentication access to the vManage interface, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous database query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar SQL injection vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their SD-WAN deployments and ensure that all administrative interfaces are properly secured. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to identify and remediate similar validation weaknesses in other network management systems and web applications within the enterprise environment.