CVE-2020-3377 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 authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands on the affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted arguments to a specific field within the application. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to run commands as the administrator on the DCNM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3377 resides within Cisco Data Center Network Manager's Device Manager application, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network management operations. This issue affects organizations relying on Cisco DCNM for data center network administration, where the Device Manager serves as a central interface for managing network devices and configurations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data, creating an avenue for malicious command injection attacks. Such a flaw is particularly dangerous in network management contexts where administrative privileges are required for system operations, as it directly compromises the security boundary between authorized users and system resources.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2020-3377 occurs through a specific vector involving crafted arguments submitted to a designated field within the Device Manager interface. This vulnerability manifests as a command injection flaw that operates at the application layer, allowing an authenticated attacker to manipulate the application's processing of user input. The insufficient validation of user-supplied input creates a pathway where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being treated as benign input. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77, which categorizes command injection flaws, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack requires only authentication to the DCNM application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables full administrative control over the affected DCNM system and potentially the entire data center network infrastructure it manages. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain the ability to execute arbitrary commands with administrator privileges, effectively granting them complete control over network device configurations, monitoring capabilities, and system resources. This level of access can result in network disruption, data exfiltration, unauthorized configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within the data center environment. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that depend on DCNM for critical network operations, as the compromise of this management interface can cascade into broader network security incidents and service disruptions.
Organizations affected by CVE-2020-3377 should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco security patches and updates, while implementing additional defensive measures to reduce attack surface and detection capabilities. Mitigation strategies should include network segmentation to limit access to the DCNM application, enforcing strict authentication controls, and implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous command execution patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, and represents a significant concern for organizations following security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 that emphasize input validation and access control measures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses across the network management infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar command injection vulnerabilities.