CVE-2019-1894 in Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrator privileges to overwrite or read arbitrary files on the underlying operating system (OS) of an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper input validation in NFVIS filesystem commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted variables during the execution of an affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to overwrite or read arbitrary files on the underlying OS.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1894 resides within Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software version 3.7.0 and earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network function virtualization environments. This weakness specifically targets the NFVIS platform's handling of filesystem operations, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to critical system resources. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's filesystem command processing, allowing malicious actors to manipulate command execution through carefully crafted parameters that bypass normal security controls. Organizations deploying NFVIS in enterprise network infrastructure environments face significant risk exposure, as this vulnerability directly compromises the security boundary between the management interface and the underlying operating system, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2019-1894 leverages improper input validation in NFVIS filesystem commands, creating a direct path for arbitrary file operations within the underlying OS environment. Attackers can construct malicious input variables that, when processed by the vulnerable NFVIS commands, result in unauthorized file read or write operations on the host operating system. This flaw operates at the intersection of privilege escalation and arbitrary file access, where authenticated administrative users can leverage the vulnerability to perform operations that should be restricted to system-level processes. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access, as it enables potential file overwrites that could compromise system binaries, configuration files, or critical log data, ultimately undermining the integrity and availability of the entire NFVIS deployment. The attack vector requires only network access to the NFVIS management interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the device.
This vulnerability significantly impacts enterprise network security posture by creating a potential attack path that allows for complete system compromise through relatively simple exploitation techniques. Organizations utilizing NFVIS for network function virtualization may experience unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, system configuration files, and potentially critical network infrastructure parameters. The implications extend to compliance requirements and regulatory adherence, as unauthorized file access could expose sensitive information or disrupt critical network services. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining system integrity while managing virtualized network functions, as this vulnerability undermines the security assumptions built into the virtualization layer. The attack could result in service disruption, data exfiltration, or system compromise that affects multiple network services running on the virtualized infrastructure, making it particularly concerning for large-scale enterprise deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1894 should prioritize immediate software patching to address the underlying input validation flaws in NFVIS versions 3.7.0 and earlier. Organizations must implement strict access controls and monitoring of NFVIS management interfaces to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious command execution patterns. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to NFVIS management interfaces to authorized administrative personnel only, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues within the broader network infrastructure. The implementation of intrusion detection systems capable of monitoring for anomalous filesystem activity patterns can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration of affected systems, while establishing incident response protocols specifically designed to address virtualization platform compromises. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Input Validation and CWE-770 Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, and represents a technique commonly associated with privilege escalation and lateral movement patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068 and T1059.