CVE-2019-1825 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 arbitrary SQL queries. This vulnerability exist because the software improperly validates user-supplied input in SQL queries. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request that contains malicious SQL statements to the affected application. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view or modify entries in some database tables, affecting the integrity of the data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1825 represents a critical SQL injection 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 incorporating it into SQL query constructions. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on these network management platforms for infrastructure monitoring and control, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of network data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through authenticated remote access to the web interface, where attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted SQL payloads. When the vulnerable application processes these requests, it fails to properly escape or validate the input parameters, allowing the malicious SQL code to be executed within the database context. This flaw directly maps to CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a primary concern in database security, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, and potentially deletion of critical network configuration information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database manipulation and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure information. Attackers could potentially modify network configurations, access confidential operational data, or establish persistent access points within the network management environment. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on centralized network management systems, where a compromised management interface could provide attackers with elevated privileges and extended access to the broader network infrastructure. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers would need valid credentials, but once obtained, they could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges within the management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1825 should prioritize immediate patch application from Cisco, specifically addressing the input validation deficiencies in the web-based management interfaces. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication, and establish robust monitoring for suspicious HTTP request patterns. Regular security assessments should verify that input validation controls are properly implemented and that database access privileges are appropriately restricted. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of defense against similar injection attacks, while adherence to security standards such as NIST SP 800-163 and ISO/IEC 27001 can help establish comprehensive security frameworks to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.