CVE-2019-1865 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by invoking an interface monitoring mechanism with a crafted argument on the affected software. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary, system-level commands with root privileges on an affected device.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1865 resides within Cisco Integrated Management Controller IMC Software's web-based management interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of enterprise server management systems. This issue affects organizations relying on Cisco's IMC for remote device management, where the compromised interface serves as a gateway for administrative functions including system monitoring, configuration changes, and device control. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, creating an avenue for malicious command injection attacks. The flaw specifically manifests when the software processes arguments through an interface monitoring mechanism, allowing attackers to manipulate the system through carefully crafted inputs that bypass normal security controls.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2019-1865 leverages the principle of command injection, where an authenticated attacker can manipulate the input validation process to execute arbitrary system commands with root privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, which classify it as a command injection flaw and a code injection vulnerability respectively, both of which are classified as high-risk issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to access the management interface before exploiting the vulnerability. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this weakness to gain complete control over the affected device, effectively elevating their privileges from standard user level to root access, which provides unrestricted system control and data access capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary system-level commands that can compromise entire server infrastructures. The root privilege execution capability allows malicious actors to modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disable security controls, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations using Cisco IMC software face significant risk when this vulnerability exists, as it could enable attackers to pivot from a single compromised management interface to other systems within the network, creating a potential foothold for broader lateral movement attacks. The implications are particularly severe in data center environments where IMC software is used for managing multiple critical servers, as a successful exploitation could result in widespread service disruption and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1865 should prioritize immediate patch management through Cisco's official security advisories, which typically provide firmware updates specifically addressing the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, enforce strict authentication controls including multi-factor authentication, and regularly audit access logs for suspicious activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation, where administrative access should be restricted to only authorized personnel and monitored closely. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous command execution patterns and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), indicating that organizations need to focus on both preventing initial exploitation and detecting post-exploitation activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses across other management interfaces and applications within the organization's infrastructure.