CVE-2019-1797 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack and perform arbitrary actions on the device with the privileges of the user, including modifying the device configuration. The vulnerability is due to insufficient CSRF protections for the web-based management interface of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading an interface user to follow a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform arbitrary actions on the device with the privileges of the user. Software versions prior to 8.3.150.0, 8.5.135.0, and 8.8.100.0 are affected.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1797 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software that fundamentally compromises the integrity of the web-based management interface. This flaw exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the wireless controller's administrative portal, where insufficient protection measures fail to validate the origin of requests. The vulnerability affects multiple software version streams including those prior to 8.3.150.0, 8.5.135.0, and 8.8.100.0, indicating a widespread issue across the product lineage that requires immediate attention from network administrators. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective measures that would normally validate legitimate administrative actions against maliciously crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to manipulate the web interface through social engineering techniques that trick authenticated users into executing unintended administrative actions. When a victim accesses a maliciously crafted link, the web interface processes the request without proper validation, enabling the attacker to perform actions that should require explicit authentication and authorization. This includes modifying device configurations, potentially leading to complete compromise of the wireless network infrastructure. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web interface and the authenticated user session, exploiting the fact that the interface does not properly verify the source of requests originating from external domains or maliciously crafted pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modifications to encompass potential complete network compromise through unauthorized access to critical wireless infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to modify wireless policies, disable security features, create backdoor access points, or redirect network traffic to malicious destinations. The privilege escalation aspect means that any user with access to the web interface could be exploited to perform actions with the privileges of that specific user, potentially leading to system-wide compromise if administrative accounts are targeted. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity of the wireless network management system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant software patches released by Cisco, which address the CSRF protection deficiencies in the web interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the WLC management interfaces to untrusted networks. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malicious CSRF requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their wireless infrastructure to identify any other potential CSRF vulnerabilities in related management interfaces and ensure proper token validation mechanisms are implemented across all web-based administrative portals.