Cisco Affected

Updated:  April 27, 2001

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco Content Services Switch User Account Vulnerability Revision 1.0 For Public Release 2001 April 04 08:00 (UTC -0700) Summary The Cisco Content Services (CSS) switch product, also known as Arrowpoint, has a security vulnerability in a previous release that allows non-privileged users to escalate their privilege level, permitting them configuration ability on affected units. This vulnerability can only be exercised from a valid user account. To remove the vulnerability, Cisco is offering free software upgrades to revision 4.01B19s for all affected platforms. This defect is documented as Cisco bug ID CSCdt32570. This advisory is available at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/arrowpoint-useraccnt-debug-pub.shtml. Affected Products The CSS switch is also known as the Arrowpoint product, and runs the Cisco WebNS Software. Cisco CSS 11050, CSS 11150, and CSS 11800 hardware platforms are affected by this vulnerability. No other Cisco products are affected by this vulnerability. If the switch is running a version prior to 4.01B19s, then it is affected and should be upgraded as soon as possible. You may type version at the command line to find out software version number. Details A non-privileged user can issue a series of keystrokes to enter the debug mode, and from that mode can gain administrative access. Impact This vulnerability allows a non-privileged user to become a super-user, allowing unauthorized access to important files such as the configuration files, and directory structure information. If access to the command line interface is well protected and restricted, these vulnerabilities are minimized. Cisco Bug ID CSCdt32570 describes this vulnerability. Software Versions and Fixes CSCdt32570 is resolved in version 4.01B19s of Cisco WebNS software. Non-privileged users can no longer enter debug mode. Obtaining Fixed Software Cisco is offering free software upgrades to eliminate this vulnerability for all affected customers. Customers with contracts should obtain upgraded software through their regular update channels. For most customers, this means that upgrades should be obtained through the Software Center on Cisco's Worldwide Web site at http://www.cisco.com. Specifically, this fix can be found at http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/webns. Customers whose Cisco products are provided or maintained through prior or existing agreement with third-party support organizations such as Cisco Partners, authorized resellers, or service providers should contact that support organization for assistance with the upgrade, which should be free of charge. Customers without contracts should get their upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC). TAC contacts are as follows: * +1 800 553 2447 (toll-free from within North America) * +1 408 526 7209 (toll call from anywhere in the world) * e-mail: tac@cisco.com See http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/687/Directory/DirTAC.shtml for additional TAC contact information, including instructions and e-mail addresses for use in various languages. Give the URL of this notice as evidence of your entitlement to a free upgrade. Free upgrades for non-contract customers must be requested through the TAC. Please do not contact either "psirt@cisco.com" or "security-alert@cisco.com" for software upgrades. Workarounds Access control lists can be applied to restrict access to the Cisco CSS device, as well as additional firewall or access lists to restrict connection to the management interface. Access control lists also affect traffic to the Virtual interface of the Cisco CSS device, so must be applied with care. For further details on configuring access lists, please refer to the product documentation: http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/webscale/css/bsccfggd/profiles .htm http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/webscale/css/advcfggd/sgacleql .htm Additionally, the use of SSH to prevent snooping of the management traffic to the device is encouraged. Telnet service can also be disabled. This is not a feasible option for many customers in a co-location environment, but it is included in this section for customers that may have the ability to implement this configuration. CS150(config)# telnet access disabled Exploitation and Public Announcements Cisco knows of no public announcements or discussion of this vulnerability before the date of this notice. Cisco has had no reports of malicious exploitation of this vulnerability. This bug was identified and reported by Cisco's own technical support staff. Status of This Notice: FINAL This is a final field notice. Although Cisco cannot guarantee the accuracy of all statements in this notice, all of the facts have been checked to the best of our ability. Cisco does not anticipate issuing updated versions of this notice unless there is some material change in the facts. Should there be a significant change in the facts, Cisco may update this notice. Distribution This notice will be posted on Cisco's Worldwide Web site at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/arrowpoint-useraccnt-debug-pub.shtml. In addition to Worldwide Web posting, a text version of this notice is clear-signed with the Cisco PSIRT PGP key and is posted to the following e-mail and Usenet news recipients: * cust-security-announce@cisco.com * bugtraq@securityfocus.com * firewalls@lists.gnac.com * first-teams@first.org (includes CERT/CC) * cisco@spot.colorado.edu * cisco-nsp@puck.nether.net * comp.dcom.sys.cisco * Various internal Cisco mailing lists Future updates of this notice, if any, will be placed on Cisco's Worldwide Web server, but may or may not be actively announced on mailing lists or newsgroups. Users concerned about this problem are encouraged to check the URL given above for any updates. Revision History Revision 2001-04-04Initial public release 1.0 Cisco Security Procedures Complete information on reporting security vulnerabilities in Cisco products, obtaining assistance with security incidents, and registering to receive security information from Cisco, is available on Cisco's Worldwide Web site at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/sec_incident_response.shtml. This includes instructions for press inquiries regarding Cisco security notices. This notice is Copyright 2001 by Cisco Systems, Inc. This notice may be redistributed freely after the release date given at the top of the text, provided that redistributed copies are complete and unmodified, and include all date and version information. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 7.0 iQEVAwUBOstK7miN3BRdFxkbAQEXYQgAmUyG3Z2jWnIZf4Y85PFi56gr7JrC9ZxA Ks5uxzEvL6NHPZLtsHErUzam8gsFdYPBVAL1Xc76Yg2BVW1hAHnsdL6rzgFoU2XZ 04swdONcoYorzd4GzcZc4d3Pl/u9+8H+WxrE4WjyJVH4f730i79t7Y3KMRj/VnXE WkHUltDuJSd5jGiCEK4Y/Rh40Ijj0gU+Qm3oNFLSPUZ22t/xFdoyWWjbEY1R5VLK qlvmK5D7jvBJ350SwPd7vI1rmSL6xxCGO15OOKPSEIrXjn4u2J4xZIUgb0Xe+OFU C8VRPj4Q4oKHCbAdjHssT/xlh93nBxQq4UlbK5zx+mFxeyI0lRayew== =CIrC -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

The Ciso advisory can be found at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/arrowpoint-useraccnt-debug-pub.shtml