CVE-2019-1819 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network (EPN) Manager software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to download and view files within the application that should be restricted. This vulnerability is due to improper sanitization of user-supplied input in HTTP request parameters that describe filenames. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using directory traversal techniques to submit a path to a desired file location. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view application files that may contain sensitive information.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager software, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of access controls within these network management platforms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data in HTTP request parameters, specifically those related to filename specifications. This weakness creates an exploitable condition where authenticated attackers can manipulate the application's file handling behavior through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages directory traversal attack patterns, where malicious users exploit the lack of proper input sanitization to navigate beyond intended file access boundaries. When users submit filenames containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the application fails to validate these inputs against a whitelist of acceptable characters and path patterns. This allows attackers to craft requests that bypass normal file access restrictions and retrieve files from arbitrary locations within the application's file system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the file handling components that process user-supplied filename parameters in the web interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network infrastructure management systems as it enables authenticated remote attackers to access sensitive application files that should remain restricted. The potential impact includes exposure of configuration files, credential storage locations, application logs, and other sensitive data that could compromise the entire network management infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this access to gather intelligence about network topology, identify security weaknesses, or extract authentication credentials that could facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for unauthorized file access that undermines the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-22 Directory Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute file system operations through web interface manipulation. Organizations using these Cisco products face heightened risk of data exposure and potential compromise of their network management infrastructure. The authentication requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as gaining initial access through other means such as credential theft or social engineering can still lead to exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise network management environments where these Cisco products are deployed.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and updates that address the input sanitization flaws in the web interface components. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to these management interfaces and enforce strict access controls through role-based permissions. Additional protective measures include monitoring web application logs for suspicious directory traversal patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and conducting regular security assessments of the management interface components. Network administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary file access capabilities and regularly review access permissions to ensure least privilege principles are maintained. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when proper sanitization mechanisms are omitted from security-critical components.