A vulnerability in an API endpoint of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) and Cisco Cloud Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (Cloud APIC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to read or write arbitrary files on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to improper access control. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using a specific API endpoint to upload a file to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read or write arbitrary files on an affected device.
With a CVSS score of 9.1, this vulnerability is classified as critical. The implications of this vulnerability are severe, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive files, which can lead to further exploitation or data breaches. Organizations utilizing these Cisco products must take immediate actions to address this issue.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to confidential data, which may lead to data loss or corruption. The attacker’s capability to manipulate files poses significant threats to system integrity and confidentiality.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability has been published and is actively being circulated in various security communities, increasing the risk of exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability in question arises from improper access control mechanisms in the API endpoints of Cisco APIC and Cloud APIC. The official description states that this vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to read or write arbitrary files on affected systems. The CVSS score of 9.1 indicates a critical impact level, with high confidentiality and integrity impacts, but no availability impact.
Affected products include the application_policy_infrastructure_controller and cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller. The vulnerability was published on August 25, 2021, and is classified under CWE-284.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is due to improper access control within the API endpoints. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability remotely, with a low attack complexity and no required privileges or user interactions.
The attack vector is network-based, allowing attackers to exploit the vulnerability without needing physical access to the network. As such, the potential risk of exploitation is significant, particularly for organizations whose systems are exposed to the internet.
The impacts include high confidentiality and integrity risks, as attackers may manipulate sensitive files, leading to unauthorized access or data corruption. Organizations must assess their security posture concerning this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
In the real world, the deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is high due to the critical nature of the affected products and the low barrier for attackers to exploit it. Organizations utilizing Cisco’s API solutions need to understand the blast radius of this flaw, as arbitrary file manipulation can lead to extensive breaches and loss of sensitive data.
Organizations should assess their urgency based on the CVSS score of 9.1, indicating that this vulnerability should be addressed as a top priority within their patch management cycles.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions include all versions of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller prior to 3.2(10e), and versions 4.0 to 4.2(6h), and 5.0 to 5.1(3e). Similarly, all versions of Cisco Cloud Application Policy Infrastructure Controller prior to 3.2(10e), and versions 4.0 to 4.2(6h), and 5.0 to 5.1(3e) are affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should ensure that they apply the necessary patches provided by Cisco to remediate this vulnerability. It is critical to upgrade to the latest available version of the affected products. If patches are not available, organizations should implement strict network controls to limit access to these API endpoints.
For continuous monitoring and validation, organizations may consider leveraging continuous penetration testing services to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unusual activity related to API access and file manipulation. Behavioral anomalies such as unexpected file uploads or changes to sensitive files should be flagged for investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control in API design. Organizations should adopt a proactive approach to secure their APIs against unauthorized access. The trend of increasing API vulnerabilities necessitates the implementation of robust security practices to mitigate risks.
For more insights on securing APIs, organizations can explore API penetration testing best practices and implement a comprehensive security strategy.
Organizations should also consider adopting vulnerability management programs, which can help identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
In summary, organizations must prioritize their response to CVE-2021-1577 by implementing immediate patches and enhancing their security posture to prevent exploitation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)