CVE-2017-12261 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) restricted shell could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary CLI commands with elevated privileges.

Understanding CVE-2017-12261

What is CVE-2017-12261?

The vulnerability in the Cisco ISE restricted shell accessible via SSH allows authenticated local attackers to run arbitrary CLI commands with elevated privileges due to incomplete input validation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12261

The vulnerability could be exploited by authenticated attackers to execute commands with increased privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12261

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Cisco ISE restricted shell allows local attackers to execute arbitrary CLI commands with elevated privileges by exploiting incomplete input validation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) versions 1.4, 2.0, 2.0.1, and 2.1.0
ISE Express and ISE Virtual Appliance

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker needs valid user credentials for the targeted device
Execute commands within the restricted shell to gain elevated privileges

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability
Monitor and restrict SSH access to the affected systems

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware
Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication
Conduct security training and awareness programs for users

Patching and Updates

Refer to Cisco's security advisory for specific patch details and instructions