CVE-2017-6712 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in Cisco Elastic Services Controller allows an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges to root level and execute harmful commands on the server.

Understanding CVE-2017-6712

This CVE involves a privilege escalation vulnerability in specific commands of Cisco Elastic Services Controller.

What is CVE-2017-6712?

The vulnerability enables an authenticated attacker to elevate their privileges to root level by exploiting the capability of a user named "tomcat" to execute certain shell commands. This allows the attacker to overwrite files on the system and execute malicious commands.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6712

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it grants unauthorized users the ability to escalate privileges to root level and potentially compromise the server's integrity and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6712

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Cisco Elastic Services Controller versions prior to 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2 allows the "tomcat" user to execute shell commands, leading to privilege escalation and unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Elastic Services Controller
Versions Affected: Prior to 2.3.1.434 and 2.3.2

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker can leverage the vulnerability to run harmful commands on the server.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-6712 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Cisco Elastic Services Controller to versions 2.3.1.434 or higher.
Monitor and restrict user privileges to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Train users on secure practices to mitigate risks of privilege escalation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.