CVE-2020-3443 in Smart Software Manager On-Prem
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem (SSM On-Prem) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges and execute commands with higher privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization of the System Operator role capabilities. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in with the System Operator role, performing a series of actions, and then assuming a new higher privileged role. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform all actions associated with the privilege of the assumed role. If that role is an administrative role, the attacker would gain full access to the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3443 affects Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem, a critical component in enterprise network management systems that handles software lifecycle management for Cisco devices. This weakness represents a significant privilege escalation flaw within the authentication and authorization framework of the platform, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically targets the System Operator role, which is designed to provide limited administrative capabilities while maintaining security boundaries. However, the insufficient authorization controls create a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended access restrictions and gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate role-based access control implementation within the SSM On-Prem system, where the System Operator role does not properly enforce authorization boundaries. This weakness allows an authenticated attacker with minimal privileges to manipulate the system's role assignment mechanisms through a series of carefully orchestrated actions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires an attacker to first establish valid credentials, making it less accessible than fully unauthenticated exploits but still highly dangerous due to its privilege escalation nature. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate or restrict the capabilities associated with role transitions, enabling attackers to assume higher privileged roles without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise when the attacker assumes administrative roles. Network administrators and security personnel must understand that a single compromised System Operator account can potentially provide attackers with full administrative access to the entire device management system. This creates a cascading security risk where the compromise of one account can lead to unauthorized access to all managed network devices and their configurations. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege, allowing attackers to move laterally within the network management infrastructure and potentially access sensitive operational data or disrupt critical network functions.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced monitoring of role transitions and access patterns, regular security assessments of administrative accounts, and implementation of multi-factor authentication for all privileged roles. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization that enables privilege escalation attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege more rigorously, ensuring that System Operator accounts have minimal necessary capabilities and that role transitions are properly audited and logged. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be prioritized to address this vulnerability, as it provides attackers with a straightforward path to achieve administrative control over critical network infrastructure components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of legitimate credentials to gain elevated access rights within the system.