CVE-2020-3386 in Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the REST API endpoint of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with a low-privileged account to bypass authorization on the API of an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization of certain API functions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the API using low-privileged credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform arbitrary actions through the REST API with administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3386 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within Cisco Data Center Network Manager's REST API implementation. This issue affects the DCNM platform, which serves as a comprehensive network management solution for data center environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within specific API endpoints, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized administrative access to network infrastructure components.
This authorization bypass vulnerability operates through a fundamental flaw in the API's permission checking mechanisms. The affected system fails to properly verify that authenticated users possess sufficient privileges before allowing access to administrative functions within the REST API. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted requests that leverage the low-privileged account credentials to access functions that should be restricted to administrators only. The vulnerability specifically targets the REST API endpoint implementation where insufficient authorization checks are in place to validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3386 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with administrative control over critical network infrastructure managed by DCNM. This elevated access enables unauthorized users to perform arbitrary actions including modifying network configurations, accessing sensitive data, creating new user accounts, and potentially disrupting network operations. The implications are particularly severe in data center environments where network management systems control critical infrastructure components such as switches, routers, and network policies. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to assume complete administrative control over the managed network fabric, potentially leading to widespread service disruption or data compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address the authorization bypass in the REST API implementation. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including API access monitoring, rate limiting, and enhanced authentication mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks, while also reviewing and strengthening their overall API security posture to prevent similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in other systems.