CVE-2020-3376 in Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Device Manager application of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary actions on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to a failure in the software to perform proper authentication. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by browsing to one of the hosted URLs in Cisco DCNM. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to interact with and use certain functions within the Cisco DCNM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3376 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Cisco Data Center Network Manager's Device Manager application. This security weakness resides in the software's failure to properly validate user credentials before granting access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects Cisco DCNM versions prior to 10.3.1, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of this network management solution in enterprise data center environments. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms that should have prevented unauthorized access to privileged functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a simple web-based attack vector where an unauthenticated remote attacker can navigate to specific URLs within the Cisco DCNM interface. This authentication bypass allows the attacker to gain access to administrative functions that should otherwise require valid credentials and proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Device Manager component which handles device configuration, monitoring, and management operations within the data center network environment. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor access point that circumvents the normal authentication workflow, enabling attackers to perform actions such as device configuration changes, status queries, and other administrative functions without proper authorization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise network security infrastructure. The ability to execute arbitrary actions on affected devices without authentication creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate network configurations, potentially leading to service disruption, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or prior knowledge of valid credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized access to network management functions, integrity by enabling unauthorized modifications to network configurations, and availability through potential disruption of managed devices.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for Cisco DCNM version 10.3.1 and later, which address the authentication bypass vulnerability through proper credential validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the Device Manager application to untrusted networks, while implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for spearphishing with a specific focus on credential access through authentication bypass methods. Regular security assessments of network management applications should be conducted to identify similar authentication flaws that could compromise network infrastructure security.
The remediation process requires careful planning to ensure that the security update does not disrupt existing network operations, as the Device Manager application plays a critical role in data center network management. Organizations should also review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege for network management applications, limiting access to only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. Continuous monitoring of network traffic for exploitation attempts and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence regarding similar vulnerabilities in network management systems will help prevent successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms in network management systems and the potential impact of authentication bypass flaws on overall network security posture.