CVE-2019-1958 in HyperFlex Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco HyperFlex Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient CSRF protections for the web UI on an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to follow a malicious link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform arbitrary actions with the privilege level of the affected user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1958 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco HyperFlex Software's web-based management interface that exposes organizations to unauthorized administrative actions. This weakness specifically targets the software's cross-site request forgery protections, which are fundamental security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized commands from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability exists within the web user interface components of the HyperFlex system, making it accessible through standard network protocols without requiring any authentication credentials from the attacker's perspective.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate CSRF protection mechanisms within the web application layer of the HyperFlex software. When users interact with the management interface, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate sources and contain appropriate security tokens to prevent malicious actors from crafting forged requests that appear to come from authenticated users. However, in this case, the software fails to properly implement or enforce CSRF tokens, allowing attackers to manipulate the web interface through carefully crafted malicious links. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the authentication and authorization processes within the web management console.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1958 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as successful exploitation enables attackers to perform arbitrary administrative actions with the privileges of the compromised user. This means that if an attacker successfully persuades a system administrator to click on a malicious link, they could potentially execute commands that modify system configurations, access sensitive data, create new user accounts, or even disable critical system functions. The vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using Cisco HyperFlex hyperconverged infrastructure solutions, where the management interface serves as the primary point of administrative control for the entire system. The consequences could range from unauthorized data manipulation to complete system compromise, depending on the privileges of the compromised user account.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patch management to apply Cisco's security updates that address the CSRF protection gaps. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts, while also monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, highlighting the need for both technical controls and user awareness training to prevent successful exploitation attempts.