CVE-2019-1820 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1820 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager web interfaces. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data within HTTP request parameters. The flaw specifically affects how the applications process filename parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to restricted files. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning an attacker who has already compromised credentials can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and access sensitive application data. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on directory traversal techniques that manipulate HTTP request parameters to navigate through the application's file system hierarchy. Attackers can construct malicious requests that include sequences such as "../" or similar path traversal strings to move up directory levels and access files outside the intended application boundaries. When the web application processes these unsanitized inputs, it fails to validate the paths properly, allowing the attacker to access files that should remain restricted to authorized users only. This flaw essentially removes the application's built-in access controls and file system boundaries, exposing sensitive information stored within the application's directory structure. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing robust sanitization mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly in web-based management interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially expose critical system information, configuration files, and sensitive data that may include database credentials, system logs, or application-specific configuration details. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to information that might aid in further exploitation attempts, including credentials, system architecture details, or other sensitive data that could be used to compromise additional systems. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to network security operations, particularly in enterprise environments where these management tools are used to oversee critical network infrastructure components. The exposure of sensitive files could lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, or unauthorized network access that could affect the entire network infrastructure managed by these applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious file access patterns and directory traversal attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their network management systems to identify any other applications that may be susceptible to similar directory traversal vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw is often present in legacy web applications that lack proper input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input sanitization as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for web application security.