CVE-2018-0271 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A weakness has been identified in the API gateway of the Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center, potentially allowing remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to critical services.

Understanding CVE-2018-0271

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Cisco DNA Center that could lead to unauthorized access and elevated privileges for attackers.

What is CVE-2018-0271?

The vulnerability in the API gateway of Cisco DNA Center allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit URL normalization issues, bypass authentication, and access critical services.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0271

Attackers can bypass authentication remotely and gain unauthorized access to important services within DNA Center.
Successful exploitation could result in elevated privileges, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0271

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The weakness arises from the failure to properly standardize URLs before handling requests.
Attackers can submit crafted URLs to exploit the issue and gain unauthorized entry to critical services.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of Cisco DNA Center Software older than 1.1.2 are impacted by this vulnerability.
The relevant Cisco Bug IDs associated with this issue are CSCvi09394.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by submitting deliberately crafted URLs to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Cisco DNA Center Software to version 1.1.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for staff to enhance awareness of potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

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