CVE-2021-1508 in SD-WAN vManage Software
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2021
Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or gain access to sensitive information, or allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain escalated privileges or gain unauthorized access to the application. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2021
The Cisco SD-WAN vManage software represents a critical component in enterprise network infrastructure management, serving as the central controller for software-defined wide area networks. This vulnerability landscape affects the vManage platform which operates as a web-based management interface for Cisco SD-WAN deployments, managing network policies, device configurations, and operational monitoring across distributed network environments. The software's architecture combines web application services with administrative functions that require robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive network management operations.
Multiple exploitation vectors exist within this vulnerability family, creating distinct attack pathways that can be leveraged by threat actors. The first vector targets unauthenticated remote attackers who can exploit weaknesses in the application's authentication mechanisms or input validation controls, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution on the affected system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow attackers to execute malicious payloads directly on the vManage server without requiring valid credentials. The second vector involves authenticated local attackers who can leverage existing access to escalate their privileges within the system, potentially gaining administrative control over network management functions. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they target core administrative services that control network policies and device configurations.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple privilege escalation or code execution capabilities. An attacker exploiting these vulnerabilities could gain access to sensitive network information including device configurations, user credentials, and network topology data. The potential for unauthorized access to the application itself means that attackers could manipulate network policies, redirect traffic, or disable network services entirely. This creates cascading effects that could compromise entire network infrastructures, as the vManage platform controls critical network operations and device management functions. The remote execution capabilities also mean that attackers could perform these operations from anywhere on the network, making detection and containment significantly more challenging.
Security professionals should consider these vulnerabilities in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) framework, where the issues likely map to CWE-20 for input validation errors, CWE-79 for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and CWE-269 for privilege escalation conditions. The ATT&CK framework would categorize these as techniques involving privilege escalation, remote code execution, and credential access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate vManage systems, applying vendor security patches, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive network monitoring for suspicious activities. The vulnerabilities demonstrate the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls for network management systems, as these platforms often serve as prime targets for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network management components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.