CVE-2021-1579 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Discover details about CVE-2021-1579, a critical vulnerability in Cisco APIC systems allowing an attacker with limited credentials to elevate privileges on the affected device. Learn about its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in an API endpoint of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) and Cloud APIC could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected system. This flaw exists due to insufficient role-based access control (RBAC), enabling an attacker to escalate privileges by exploiting a specific API request.
Understanding CVE-2021-1579
This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-1579 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-1579?
The vulnerability in Cisco APIC systems lets a remote attacker, authenticated with limited credentials, gain higher privileges, potentially compromising the system's security.
The Impact of CVE-2021-1579
The vulnerability could lead to a significant impact where an attacker could escalate their privileges to Administrator level, gaining unauthorized access to perform malicious activities.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-1579
Here are the technical aspects of CVE-2021-1579.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw arises due to a lack of proper role-based access control in Cisco APIC, allowing attackers with limited permissions to gain elevated access.
Affected Systems and Versions
Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) is impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Authenticated attackers with read-only admin credentials can leverage a specific API request using an application with write permissions to exploit this vulnerability.
Mitigation and Prevention
Mitigating CVE-2021-1579 is crucial to ensure the security of Cisco APIC systems.
Immediate Steps to Take
Implementing least privilege access, monitoring API requests, and restricting access to critical functions can help mitigate the risk.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regular security training for personnel, conducting security assessments, and staying updated with security advisories are essential long-term security measures.
Patching and Updates
Applying security patches provided by Cisco and keeping the APIC systems up to date can prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.