CVE-2020-3450 in Vision Dynamic Signage Director
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Vision Dynamic Signage Director could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative credentials to conduct SQL injection attacks on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-submitted parameters. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the web-based management interface and sending malicious requests to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain data that is stored in the underlying database, including hashed user credentials. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need valid administrative credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3450 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Vision Dynamic Signage Director's web-based management interface. This system serves as the central control platform for managing digital signage content and configurations across enterprise environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to organizational networks. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and input validation mechanisms that govern how user-submitted parameters are processed within the web interface. Security researchers have classified this issue as a SQL injection vulnerability, which occurs when an application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into database queries. The flaw resides in the application's failure to adequately validate or escape user-supplied data, creating an opening for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations through crafted input sequences.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2020-3450 requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities that allow unauthenticated access. However, this prerequisite does not diminish the severity of the vulnerability, as administrative accounts typically possess extensive privileges and access to sensitive organizational data. The attack vector involves authenticating to the web-based management interface and subsequently submitting maliciously crafted requests that contain SQL injection payloads. These payloads are designed to manipulate the database query execution process, potentially allowing attackers to extract, modify, or delete data stored within the system's database. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it can provide attackers with access to hashed user credentials, which serve as the foundation for potential credential reuse attacks and further network infiltration. The underlying database structure likely contains sensitive information including user account details, system configurations, and potentially other organizational data that administrators have entrusted to the signage management system.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant security breaches for organizations relying on Cisco Vision Dynamic Signage Director for their digital signage infrastructure. The stolen credentials could enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the network, potentially gaining access to additional systems and resources that were not directly targeted by the initial compromise. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and persistence tactics, where attackers leverage compromised administrative accounts to maintain long-term access to target environments. The impact on organizations extends beyond immediate data theft, as compromised administrative credentials can be used to modify signage content, potentially spreading malicious information or conducting social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate security standards such as those outlined in CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities resulting from inadequate parameter sanitization. Organizations may experience reputational damage if attackers use compromised signage systems to disseminate false information or if credential theft leads to broader network breaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address CVE-2020-3450, beginning with applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that resolve the SQL injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that administrative access to the signage management system is restricted to authorized personnel only. Regular monitoring of system logs for suspicious authentication patterns and unusual database query activity should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive credential audits to identify any potential compromise of administrative accounts and implement multi-factor authentication where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and parameter sanitization in web applications, reinforcing security best practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks targeting the affected system. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web-based management interfaces and applications within the organization's attack surface.