CVE-2020-3446 in vWAAS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Virtual Wide Area Application Services (vWAAS) with Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS)-bundled images for Cisco ENCS 5400-W Series and CSP 5000-W Series appliances could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into the NFVIS CLI of an affected device by using accounts that have a default, static password. The vulnerability exists because the affected software has user accounts with default, static passwords. An attacker with access to the NFVIS CLI of an affected device could exploit this vulnerability by logging into the CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access the NFVIS CLI with administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3446 represents a critical authentication flaw within Cisco's virtual wide area application services platform, specifically affecting vWAAS deployments bundled with Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software on ENCS 5400-W and CSP 5000-W series appliances. This weakness stems from the implementation of user accounts with default, static passwords that persist across device deployments, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by unauthenticated remote attackers without requiring any prior credentials or sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the device's access control mechanisms and represents a fundamental failure in secure configuration management practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure Software's command-line interface where attackers can leverage default credentials to gain administrative access to the NFVIS environment. This access level provides complete control over the virtualized network functions and infrastructure management capabilities, enabling attackers to modify configurations, access sensitive network data, and potentially compromise the entire virtualized network environment. The flaw operates at the authentication layer and aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic example of insecure default configurations that violate security best practices established by industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with administrative privileges that can be used to manipulate network services, modify virtual machine configurations, and potentially establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from external network positions without requiring physical access or network proximity, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage scope. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, enabling attackers to maintain long-term access and conduct reconnaissance activities within the compromised environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including immediate password changes for all default accounts, implementation of network segmentation to restrict access to NFVIS interfaces, and deployment of automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify and remediate similar configuration issues across their infrastructure. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security audits of all network infrastructure components, implementation of secure configuration baselines that prevent default credential usage, and establishment of regular security maintenance procedures to ensure that default accounts are properly secured or disabled. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces, and security awareness training should be provided to ensure that administrators understand the importance of changing default credentials and maintaining secure configuration practices.