CVE-2019-1879 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input at the CLI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating with the administrator password via the CLI of an affected device and submitting crafted input to the affected commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1879 resides within the command line interface of Cisco Integrated Management Controller versions 3.0 through 3.5. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of managed network infrastructure. The Cisco IMC serves as a vital component for remote management of Cisco servers and networking equipment, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with elevated privileges necessary for system compromise. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CLI implementation, creating an environment where maliciously crafted commands can bypass normal security restrictions and execute with the highest level of system privileges.
This security flaw constitutes a classic command injection vulnerability that operates at the command-line interface level, specifically targeting the authentication and execution pathways of the IMC system. The vulnerability manifests when an authenticated administrator accesses the CLI interface and submits specially crafted input to commands that do not properly sanitize user-supplied data. The insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject additional commands that are subsequently executed with root privileges, effectively granting complete system control. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-77 as "Command Injection" and falls within the broader category of CWE-20 "Improper Input Validation," both of which are fundamental security weaknesses that have been consistently identified as high-risk across numerous security frameworks and standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands with complete system access. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can perform actions such as modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive data, installing malicious software, or even completely compromising the managed device. The implications are severe because the IMC typically manages critical infrastructure components, and unauthorized access to these systems can lead to widespread network disruption, data breaches, or complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.003 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell" in its exploitation methods, though adapted for the specific CLI environment of the Cisco IMC.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their infrastructure. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation deficiencies in the CLI implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit administrative access to only trusted personnel and systems. Additionally, monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing principle of least privilege and regular security assessments of management interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other network management components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues that could impact system functionality or reliability.