CVE-2020-12142 in Unity ECOS
Summary
by MITRE
a. IPSec UDP key material can be retrieved from machine-to-machine interfaces and human-accessible interfaces by a user with admin credentials. Such a user, with the required system knowledge, could use this material to decrypt in-flight communication. b. The vulnerability requires administrative access and shell access to the EdgeConnect appliance. An admin user can access IPSec seed and nonce parameters using the CLI, REST APIs, and the Linux shell. Resolution • EdgeConnect software has been modified to prevent users from accessing IPSec seed and nonce parameters using the CLI, REST APIs, and the Linux shell. • EdgeConnect software has been modified to allow customers to choose not to persist the IPSec seed for additional security. Any required configuration Upgrade to Silver Peak Unity ECOS™ 8.3.2+ or 8.1.9.12+ and Silver Peak Unity Orchestrator™ 8.9.2+. 8. Product affected All versions affected prior to Silver Peak Unity ECOS™ 8.3.2+, 8.1.9.12+ and Silver Peak Unity Orchestrator™ 8.9.2+ Silver Peak Products Applicability Unity EdgeConnect, NX, VX Applicable Unity Orchestrator Applicable EdgeConnect in AWS, Azure, GCP Applicable Silver Peak Cloud Services Not Applicable
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2020-12142 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Silver Peak EdgeConnect appliances that compromises the integrity of IPSec encrypted communications. This weakness specifically affects the handling of IPSec UDP key material, which serves as the foundation for securing network communications between devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and privilege separation mechanisms within the appliance's command-line interface, rest apis, and linux shell environments. An attacker with administrative credentials can directly extract IPSec seed and nonce parameters, which are essential cryptographic components used to establish secure communication channels. This exposure creates a significant risk as the extracted key material could be leveraged to decrypt in-flight network traffic, effectively undermining the security assurances provided by IPSec encryption protocols.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires administrative access and shell access to the EdgeConnect appliance, placing it within the realm of privileged attack vectors. The flaw exists due to inadequate input validation and access control enforcement mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive cryptographic parameters. Attackers with administrative privileges can utilize the CLI, REST APIs, and Linux shell to retrieve IPSec seed and nonce values, which are typically protected cryptographic elements that should remain inaccessible to unauthorized users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design. The exposure of these parameters through multiple access points demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the appliance's security architecture that allows for comprehensive cryptographic material retrieval.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables active decryption of network communications that would normally remain protected. An attacker with access to the extracted IPSec key material could potentially intercept, modify, or replay encrypted network traffic between EdgeConnect appliances and their connected devices. This capability compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the communications infrastructure, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data flows. The vulnerability affects all versions of Silver Peak EdgeConnect appliances prior to the specified patches, creating a widespread risk across deployed systems. Network monitoring systems may not detect this attack vector as it operates within the legitimate administrative interfaces, making detection particularly challenging for security operations teams.
The vendor resolution addresses the vulnerability through multiple defensive mechanisms that enhance the security posture of affected appliances. The software modifications prevent users from accessing IPSec seed and nonce parameters through CLI, REST APIs, and Linux shell interfaces, effectively closing the primary attack vectors. Additionally, customers can now choose to disable the persistence of IPSec seeds, providing an additional layer of security that reduces the attack surface for potential exploitation. The required software upgrades to Silver Peak Unity ECOS 8.3.2+ or 8.1.9.12+ and Silver Peak Unity Orchestrator 8.9.2+ ensure that affected systems receive the necessary security patches. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials from password stores, and demonstrates proper vulnerability management through targeted software updates. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches to mitigate the risk of cryptographic material exposure and maintain the integrity of their IPSec-protected communications infrastructure.