CVE-2019-1876 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) Software has a vulnerability in its HTTPS proxy feature that could allow unauthorized access to the Central Manager.

Understanding CVE-2019-1876

Cisco WAAS Software is susceptible to an authentication bypass vulnerability in its HTTPS proxy feature, potentially enabling attackers to misuse the Central Manager as an HTTPS proxy.

What is CVE-2019-1876?

The vulnerability arises from inadequate authentication of proxy connection requests, allowing attackers to send malicious HTTPS CONNECT messages to the Central Manager and gain unauthorized access to restricted internet resources.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1876

CVSS Base Score: 4.0 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Integrity Impact: Low
Scope: Changed
No user interaction or privileges required
Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to corporate-restricted internet resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1876

Cisco WAAS Software's vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the Central Manager as an HTTPS proxy due to insufficient authentication of proxy connection requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS)
Vendor: Cisco
Affected Version: < 6.4(5.6)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can send a malicious HTTPS CONNECT message to the Central Manager to gain unauthorized access to restricted internet resources.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2019-1876 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Implement strong network access controls.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems.
Conduct security audits and assessments periodically.
Educate users on safe internet practices and phishing awareness.

Patching and Updates

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