CVE-2018-0253 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the ACS Report component of Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected system. This flaw arises from inadequate validation of the Action Message Format (AMF) protocol.

Understanding CVE-2018-0253

This CVE entry describes a critical vulnerability in the Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) that could lead to unauthorized remote command execution.

What is CVE-2018-0253?

The vulnerability in the ACS Report component of Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The flaw is a result of insufficient validation of the AMF protocol.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0253

If successfully exploited, an attacker could execute commands on the ACS device at the privilege level of the targeted user. This could lead to unauthorized access and potential compromise of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0253

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to send a crafted AMF message containing malicious code to a targeted user, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands on the ACS device.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Cisco Secure ACS prior to Release 5.8 Patch 7 are vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this flaw, an attacker needs to send a carefully crafted AMF message with malicious code to a targeted user, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands on the ACS device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Cisco to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an exploitation attempt.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential security breaches.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated to at least Cisco Secure ACS Release 5.8 Patch 7 to address this vulnerability.