CVE-2019-1971 in Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web portal of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to perform a command injection attack and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation by the web portal framework. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by providing malicious input during web portal authentication. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1971 represents a critical command injection flaw within Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) web portal component. This security weakness exists within the authentication framework of the NFVIS platform, which is designed to manage and orchestrate network functions virtualization infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data during the authentication process. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks, allowing them to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. The flaw specifically affects the web portal's handling of authentication parameters, where insufficient sanitization creates an avenue for attackers to manipulate the system's command execution flow.
The technical impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with root-level access to the underlying operating system. This level of access enables comprehensive system compromise including but not limited to data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation to other users, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure components. The lack of proper input validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's command processing mechanisms, allowing them to execute arbitrary shell commands with the highest available privileges. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-77 and CWE-94 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively.
From an operational standpoint, the exploitation of CVE-2019-1971 poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco NFVIS for their network virtualization infrastructure. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network proximity. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through potential data access and exfiltration, integrity through unauthorized system modifications, and availability through potential system disruption or compromise. Organizations using NFVIS platforms face the risk of complete system takeover, which could result in service outages, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability affects the core operational security of network infrastructure, potentially impacting multiple services and applications that depend on the compromised NFVIS platform. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, deploy malware, or conduct further reconnaissance against other systems within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1971 should focus on immediate patch management and network segmentation approaches. Cisco has released security advisories and patches addressing this vulnerability, which organizations should implement immediately to remediate the flaw. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation rules, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the impact of potential exploitation, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous command execution patterns and unauthorized system access attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for defensive measures that monitor and control command execution within the network environment. Regular security awareness training for administrators and security personnel is essential to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to ensure business continuity in case of successful exploitation, while also implementing proper access controls and audit logging to detect unauthorized activities within the NFVIS environment.