CVE-2019-1880 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the BIOS upgrade utility of Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) C-Series Rack Servers could allow an authenticated, local attacker to install compromised BIOS firmware on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of the firmware image file. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing the BIOS upgrade utility with a specific set of options. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass the firmware signature-verification process and install compromised BIOS firmware on an affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1880 resides within the BIOS upgrade utility of Cisco Unified Computing System C-Series Rack Servers, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of firmware installation processes. This flaw specifically targets the validation mechanisms employed during BIOS updates, creating an avenue for authenticated local attackers to compromise system firmware. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation of firmware image files, which fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of the firmware being installed. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the upgrade utility through specific command-line options or execution parameters, effectively bypassing the built-in signature verification mechanisms that are designed to prevent unauthorized firmware modifications. The attack vector requires local access to the system, meaning an attacker must already have authenticated credentials to the device, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the overall risk given the potential for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2019-1880 involves leveraging the insufficient validation logic within the BIOS upgrade utility to execute malicious firmware installations without proper verification. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malformed or malicious inputs to be processed without adequate sanitization or verification. The flaw enables attackers to circumvent the digital signature verification process that normally ensures only authorized and verified firmware can be installed on the system. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can install compromised BIOS firmware that may contain backdoors, rootkits, or other malicious components designed to persist across system reboots and potentially evade traditional security monitoring mechanisms. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as BIOS-level modifications can fundamentally alter system behavior and provide attackers with persistent access to the underlying hardware infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, CVE-2019-1880 represents a significant threat to enterprise infrastructure security, particularly in data center environments where Cisco UCS C-Series servers are commonly deployed. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain deep system control by modifying firmware at the lowest level of the system architecture, potentially enabling complete system compromise and persistent access. This type of attack can result in data exfiltration, system availability disruption, and the establishment of persistent backdoors that are extremely difficult to detect and remove. The attack can be executed with relatively simple commands and requires minimal specialized knowledge, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. The impact is particularly severe because BIOS-level modifications can bypass traditional operating system security controls and endpoint detection mechanisms, as these modifications occur below the operating system level where most security monitoring tools operate.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address CVE-2019-1880, including restricting local access to affected systems, implementing strict access controls for BIOS upgrade utilities, and monitoring for unauthorized firmware installation activities. The recommended approach involves disabling unnecessary local administrative access, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that only authorized personnel can execute firmware upgrade processes. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected Cisco UCS C-Series servers within their environment and apply the appropriate firmware updates provided by Cisco. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious BIOS upgrade activities and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle firmware-level compromise scenarios. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of hardware security and supply chain integrity, aligning with ATT&CK techniques that involve system firmware modification and privilege escalation through low-level system access. Regular firmware audits and secure boot implementation should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, as this type of attack can provide attackers with the most persistent and difficult-to-detect access to enterprise systems.