CVE-2024-20482 in Secure Firewall Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software, formerly Firepower Management Center Software, could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have a valid account on the device that is configured with a custom read-only role.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of role permissions in part of the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by performing a write operation on the affected part of the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to modify certain parts of the configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
This vulnerability resides within Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center software, formerly known as Firepower Management Center Software, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw in the web-based management interface. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where users have been assigned custom read-only roles, creating an unexpected pathway for unauthorized privilege elevation. The flaw manifests through inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly enforce role-based access controls, allowing authenticated users with limited permissions to bypass intended security boundaries and perform operations beyond their designated access levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient permission validation within specific components of the web interface management system. When an attacker with a custom read-only account attempts write operations against certain portions of the management interface, the system fails to properly validate whether the user possesses adequate privileges for such actions. This represents a classic role-based access control (RBAC) failure where the authorization checks are either absent or improperly implemented. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control due to insufficient permission validation and inadequate privilege checking mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Cisco FMC for network security management. An attacker who has gained legitimate access to the system through a valid account can escalate their privileges without requiring additional authentication credentials or elevated access rights. The successful exploitation enables modification of configuration parameters that could compromise network security posture, potentially allowing attackers to alter firewall rules, modify security policies, or manipulate other critical network infrastructure settings. This capability creates a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged for extended network infiltration or lateral movement within the affected environment.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be exploited through legitimate administrative access points without requiring additional attack vectors such as credential theft or privilege escalation through other system weaknesses. The exploitation process requires only an existing valid account with a custom read-only role, making it accessible to attackers who have already achieved initial compromise or those who have obtained legitimate access credentials. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized write operations against configuration management components, particularly when these operations originate from accounts assigned read-only permissions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on strengthening role-based access control implementations within the FMC software environment. Cisco has released patches addressing this vulnerability in affected software versions, and organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates to prevent exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, enforcing strict monitoring for unusual write operations against configuration components, and conducting regular audits of user roles and permissions within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining principle of least privilege enforcement and proper input validation in web-based management systems as outlined in industry security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and system maintenance.
Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, establishing stricter access logging protocols, and regularly reviewing user access rights to ensure that permissions align with job requirements. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of role-based access control implementations, particularly in web applications where users may have varying levels of access based on their assigned roles. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the security architecture of the management interface, emphasizing the critical importance of proper permission validation and authorization checks in enterprise security systems.