CVE-2019-1871 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Integrated Management Controller Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2019-1871

This CVE involves a security flaw in the Import Cisco IMC configuration utility of Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) that could be exploited by a remote attacker to execute unauthorized commands with root privileges.

What is CVE-2019-1871?

The vulnerability in the Import Cisco IMC configuration utility allows an authenticated attacker to trigger a denial of service (DoS) and execute unauthorized commands with elevated privileges on the affected device.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1871

The vulnerability poses a high risk as it enables attackers to cause a DoS and execute arbitrary code with root privileges on the targeted device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1871

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from inadequate bounds checking during the import-config process, leading to a buffer overflow condition that allows the execution of arbitrary code on the device.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Unified Computing System (Management Software)
Vendor: Cisco
Versions Affected: Less than 3.0(4k)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
CVSS Score: 7.2 (High Severity)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-1871 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches and updates promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing.
Educate users on best security practices to prevent social engineering attacks.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address the vulnerability. Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest security fixes.