CVE-2020-3249 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-2020-3249 affects Cisco UCS Director and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data products, representing a critical security weakness in the REST API implementation that could enable remote exploitation without proper authentication. These platforms serve as unified computing management solutions that orchestrate and automate data center operations, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise infrastructure. The affected systems typically handle sensitive operational data and control critical computing resources, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and authentication bypass mechanisms within the REST API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to perform directory traversal attacks, allowing them to access files and directories outside the intended scope of the application. This weakness stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input parameters that are processed by the API handlers, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate file paths and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication mechanisms that should validate user credentials before granting access to restricted API functions.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Remote attackers could potentially access configuration files, user credentials, system logs, and other sensitive information stored within the affected systems. The directory traversal capability allows attackers to navigate through the file system hierarchy, potentially accessing critical system files or even executing arbitrary code on the target device. This vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco UCS Director for managing their data center operations, potentially exposing their entire infrastructure to unauthorized access and manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Cisco, as recommended in their security advisories, and implementation of network segmentation to limit access to the affected REST API endpoints. Organizations should enforce strict access controls and monitor API usage patterns for suspicious activities. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests and apply the principle of least privilege to API access. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the data center management infrastructure, aligning with industry best practices outlined in the CWE catalog for authentication bypass and directory traversal vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that address both network-level and application-level threats.