CVE-2020-26063 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2024
A vulnerability in the API endpoints of Cisco Integrated Management Controller could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to bypass authorization and take actions on a vulnerable system without authorization. The vulnerability is due to improper authorization checks on API endpoints. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to an API endpoint. An exploit could allow the attacker to download files from or modify limited configuration options on the affected system.There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-26063 resides within the Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) API endpoints, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that compromises system security. This vulnerability specifically affects the IMC firmware versions prior to 3.10, making numerous enterprise infrastructure devices susceptible to unauthorized access. The IMC serves as a critical management component for Cisco servers and networking equipment, providing remote administration capabilities through its web-based interface and RESTful API endpoints. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of user permissions during API request processing, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and perform unauthorized operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic authorization bypass mechanism where the system fails to properly verify user credentials and access rights before executing sensitive operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious API requests that circumvent the normal authentication flow, allowing them to execute actions typically restricted to administrators or privileged users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the system's ability to validate whether a user has sufficient permissions to access or modify configuration settings, file systems, or other sensitive components. This flaw operates at the application layer, leveraging the API's inherent trust model to execute unauthorized operations without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-26063 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to download sensitive files and modify configuration parameters that could severely compromise system integrity and availability. An attacker with valid credentials could potentially download system logs, configuration files, or other sensitive data, while simultaneously modifying network settings, user permissions, or system parameters that could disrupt operations or create backdoors. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network segmentation may not be sufficient to prevent lateral movement. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization in software systems, and represents a significant risk to information security governance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate firmware updates to versions 3.10 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the authorization bypass flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect unusual API activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles for IMC users. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and establish network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The lack of workarounds for this vulnerability emphasizes the critical importance of timely patch management and proactive security measures. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, highlighting the need for robust identity and access management controls to prevent unauthorized system access. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as API rate limiting, enhanced logging, and continuous monitoring to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.