CVE-2024-20417 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2024
Multiple vulnerabilities in the REST API of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct blind SQL injection attacks.
These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input in REST API calls. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted input to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view or modify data on the affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The CVE-2024-20417 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Identity Services Engine's REST API implementation that exposes organizations to sophisticated blind SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms within Cisco ISE, which serves as a central identity management platform for enterprise networks. The affected system operates as a policy enforcement point that controls network access and manages user authentication, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation practices within the API's parameter handling, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate database queries through crafted API requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through blind SQL injection techniques that leverage the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input in REST API endpoints. Attackers can construct malicious payloads that bypass normal input validation controls, allowing them to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the underlying database queries. This blind approach means that attackers cannot directly observe database results through error messages, but can infer information through response timing variations or conditional responses. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization database operations within ISE, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, extract sensitive user credentials, or modify access control policies. The attack requires only authenticated access to the system, which significantly reduces the attack surface since legitimate users already possess the necessary credentials to interact with the API.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20417 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can fundamentally compromise the integrity of the entire identity management infrastructure. Organizations relying on Cisco ISE for network access control could experience complete compromise of their authentication systems, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized network access or manipulate security policies. The vulnerability's potential for data modification means attackers could alter user permissions, create backdoor accounts, or disable security controls entirely. This threat is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where ISE manages access to critical systems, including financial databases, HR systems, and operational technology networks. The attack vector through REST API calls also means that exploitation can occur through automated tools, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security monitoring capabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching the affected Cisco ISE software to the latest available versions that address the input validation flaws. Network segmentation and API access controls should be enhanced to limit the scope of potential exploitation, particularly restricting access to the REST API endpoints to trusted administrative networks. Implementing comprehensive API monitoring and logging solutions can help detect anomalous API behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their ISE deployments to identify any unauthorized access or modifications that may have occurred. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK framework's T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques where attackers leverage legitimate credentials to exploit API vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized database access patterns that could indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.