CVE-2020-3239 in UCS Director
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the REST API of Cisco UCS Director and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data may allow a remote attacker to bypass authentication or conduct directory traversal attacks on an affected device. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3239 affects Cisco UCS Director and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data platforms, representing a critical security weakness in the REST API implementation that exposes organizations to significant remote attack vectors. These platforms are widely used for managing and orchestrating data center operations, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. The affected systems operate within critical infrastructure deployments where unauthorized access could lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the REST API endpoints of the affected Cisco products. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses to bypass authentication requirements and perform directory traversal attacks that allow them to access unauthorized files and directories on the affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the API layer where user requests are processed, creating a pathway for remote exploitation without requiring valid credentials. The authentication bypass occurs due to improper session management and weak access controls that fail to properly validate user credentials before granting access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over the affected systems. Directory traversal attacks can be leveraged to read sensitive configuration files, access database contents, and extract proprietary information that could be used for further attacks against the broader network infrastructure. Organizations using these platforms may experience unauthorized data access, system compromise, and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where sensitive data processing occurs. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit these vulnerabilities from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Cisco security patches and updates to address the identified vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the REST API endpoints, limiting exposure to trusted networks only. Regular monitoring of system logs for unusual authentication patterns and file access attempts should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 for improper authentication and CWE-22 for directory traversal attacks, representing common but critical weaknesses in web application security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as API gateways with enhanced authentication mechanisms and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments.