CVE-2019-1900 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web server of Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the web server process to crash, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input on the web interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted HTTP request to certain endpoints of the affected software. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to cause the web server to crash. Physical access to the device may be required for a restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1900 affects Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) web server implementations, representing a critical denial of service weakness that undermines system availability. This flaw resides within the web server component responsible for handling HTTP requests through the graphical user interface, where inadequate input validation creates an exploitable entry point for remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically targets the insufficient validation of user-supplied input on the web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt normal service operations without requiring authentication credentials. The affected Cisco IMC systems operate as management controllers for enterprise hardware, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for data center and server infrastructure environments where continuous availability is paramount.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the submission of crafted HTTP requests to specific endpoints within the affected software interface. This type of input validation failure aligns with CWE-20, which describes weaknesses in input validation that can lead to various security issues including denial of service conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with command injection or buffer overflow patterns where malformed input causes the web server process to terminate unexpectedly. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing specific HTTP requests that trigger the web server to crash, effectively rendering the management interface unavailable to legitimate users and system administrators. The exploitation process does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely from any network location without prior access credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1900 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire server management capabilities within enterprise environments. When the web server process crashes, administrators lose access to critical management functions that control hardware configuration, monitoring, and maintenance operations. This denial of service condition can cascade into broader operational issues, particularly in data center environments where multiple servers rely on IMC for centralized management. The requirement for physical access to restart the device after exploitation creates additional operational challenges, as it may require IT personnel to respond to the incident in person, potentially causing extended downtime. Organizations using Cisco IMC for server management may experience significant disruption to their operations, as the management interface becomes unavailable for critical tasks such as firmware updates, configuration changes, and system monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1900 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Cisco has released security advisories and patches addressing this specific vulnerability, which organizations should implement immediately to protect their systems. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit exposure by restricting access to IMC management interfaces to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Implementing web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious HTTP requests before they reach the vulnerable web server components. Organizations should also establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual patterns in web server behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts, leveraging security information and event management systems to track potential attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation practices in web applications and demonstrates the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against various attack vectors while maintaining operational continuity in enterprise environments.