CVE-2019-1823 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure (PI) and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network (EPN) Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute code with root-level privileges on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability exist because the software improperly validates user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious file to the administrative web interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute code with root-level privileges on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1823 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager web-based management interfaces. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on these network management platforms for critical infrastructure monitoring and control, potentially exposing their entire network ecosystem to sophisticated attack vectors. The flaw specifically manifests in the administrative web interface where legitimate users can upload files, creating an avenue for malicious actors to escalate privileges and gain root-level access to the underlying operating system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the fundamental security posture of network management systems.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2019-1823 occurs through a carefully crafted file upload mechanism that bypasses normal validation checks within the web interface. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by uploading malicious files that, when processed by the vulnerable system, execute with elevated privileges. The improper input validation creates a path where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being treated as benign user input. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a common weakness in software systems where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being processed. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient validation of file upload operations can lead to arbitrary code execution, particularly when the system lacks proper file type checking, content verification, or execution restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the underlying operating system and all associated services. Once an attacker achieves root-level access through this vulnerability, they can modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt network operations entirely. The affected platforms typically serve as central management points for enterprise networks, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or cause widespread disruption. Organizations using these systems face potential data breaches, network compromise, and significant operational disruption that could affect multiple network segments. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers do not require physical access or network-level credentials beyond initial authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with less restrictive access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1823 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Cisco, which addresses the input validation deficiencies through updated code that properly sanitizes user-supplied data. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from critical network segments, reducing the potential blast radius of successful exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file upload restrictions, enabling multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and monitoring for unusual file upload activities within the web interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to ATT&CK framework principles where techniques like T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1548 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanisms) are relevant to the exploitation path. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious upload patterns and anomalous root-level process execution that may indicate exploitation attempts.