CVE-2020-3248 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-2020-3248 affects Cisco UCS Director and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data products, representing a critical security flaw in the REST API implementation. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the web application interface, creating multiple attack vectors for remote threat actors. The affected systems operate within enterprise data center environments where UCS Director serves as a unified management platform for Cisco UCS infrastructure, making these devices prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise critical infrastructure management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves two primary attack vectors: authentication bypass and directory traversal. The authentication bypass occurs due to improper session management and weak credential validation within the REST API endpoints, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions without proper authentication. Directory traversal attacks exploit insufficient input sanitization in file path handling, enabling attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying filesystem through crafted API requests. These flaws align with CWE-22 (Directory Traversal) and CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) classifications, demonstrating the fundamental weakness in input validation and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability exists because the REST API endpoints fail to properly validate user-supplied input parameters, particularly those related to file paths and authentication tokens.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3248 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive configuration data, and manipulate critical infrastructure management functions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain full administrative access to the UCS Director management interface, enabling them to modify network configurations, access virtual machine deployments, and potentially compromise the entire underlying data center infrastructure. The attack surface extends beyond simple credential theft to include potential lateral movement within the network, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for accessing other connected systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) by enabling unauthorized access through legitimate administrative interfaces, while also supporting T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) through potential code execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3248 require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to address both authentication and input validation weaknesses. Organizations should apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which include enhanced input validation, improved session management, and strengthened authentication mechanisms within the REST API endpoints. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to the UCS Director management interfaces, limiting exposure to only trusted administrative networks. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter REST API traffic, enforcing strict access controls through role-based permissions, and conducting regular security audits of API endpoints. The solution aligns with NIST SP 800-53 controls including AC-3 (Access Enforcement), SI-7 (Software Faults), and CM-7 (Configuration Management), ensuring comprehensive protection against both current exploitation attempts and potential future variants of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous API access patterns and unauthorized authentication attempts, with intrusion detection systems configured to alert on suspicious directory traversal attempts and authentication bypass indicators.