CVE-2017-6747 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A weakness in the authentication module of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) allows unauthorized remote attackers to bypass local authentication, potentially gaining Super Admin privileges.

Understanding CVE-2017-6747

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the authentication mechanism of Cisco ISE, impacting certain versions of the software.

What is CVE-2017-6747?

The vulnerability in Cisco ISE's authentication module enables attackers to exploit authentication requests and policy assignment for externally authenticated users, leading to unauthorized access.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6747

Attackers can bypass local authentication and gain Super Admin privileges for the ISE Admin portal.
The vulnerability affects Cisco ISE, Cisco ISE Express, and Cisco ISE Virtual Appliance versions 1.3, 1.4, 2.0.0, 2.0.1, and 2.1.0.
Release 2.2.x is not susceptible to this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6747

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Improper handling of authentication requests and policy assignment for externally authenticated users.
Attackers can exploit this by using a valid external user account matching an internal username.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco ISE, Cisco ISE Express, and Cisco ISE Virtual Appliance running Release 1.3, 1.4, 2.0.0, 2.0.1, or 2.1.0.
Release 2.2.x is not vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers authenticate with a valid external user account that corresponds to an internal username.
They receive the incorrect authorization policy of the internal account, granting unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6747 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of unauthorized access.
Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to fix the vulnerability in affected versions of Cisco ISE.