CVE-2020-3114 in Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) 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-based management interface on an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to follow a malicious link while having an active session on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform arbitrary actions with the privilege level of the targeted user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3114 resides within Cisco Data Center Network Manager's web-based management interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's authentication mechanisms. This issue affects Cisco DCNM versions prior to 10.4.1, where the web interface fails to implement adequate cross-site request forgery protections, creating a significant attack vector for remote threat actors. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms that would normally prevent unauthorized requests from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. This weakness specifically targets the web-based management interface, which serves as the primary administrative entry point for network configuration and monitoring activities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to craft malicious web requests that appear legitimate to the target system. When a user with an active session navigates to a maliciously crafted link, the web interface processes the request without proper validation of the request origin or authenticity. This allows the attacker to perform unauthorized actions using the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to complete compromise of the network management functionality. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically within the web interface's handling of HTTP requests, where session management and request validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it could enable attackers to manipulate network configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially disrupt critical network operations. Network administrators who maintain active sessions on the DCNM interface become vulnerable targets, as the attack requires only the user to click on a malicious link while maintaining their authenticated session. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently access the web interface from shared or public workstations. The attack vector does not require any authentication credentials from the attacker, making it particularly insidious as it exploits the trust relationship between the web interface and authenticated users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, enabling proper CSRF protection mechanisms, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the DCNM interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it leverages existing user sessions and requires social engineering to deliver malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious web requests and establishing secure administrative practices such as session timeout configurations and multi-factor authentication for critical management interfaces.