CVE-2018-0437 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Cisco Umbrella Enterprise Roaming Client and Enterprise Roaming Module Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2018-0437

This CVE involves a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Cisco Umbrella Enterprise Roaming Client (ERC) that could allow a local attacker to elevate their privileges to that of an Administrator.

What is CVE-2018-0437?

The flaw in the Cisco Umbrella ERC allows an authenticated local attacker to escalate their privileges to Administrator level by exploiting inadequate file system permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0437

The vulnerability enables non-administrative users to insert files into restricted directories, potentially leading to the execution of malicious code with elevated privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0437

The technical aspects of this CVE are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from improper file system permission implementation, allowing attackers to place executable files in restricted directories.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Umbrella
Vendor: Cisco
Affected Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers must authenticate with valid local user credentials to exploit the vulnerability.
By placing an executable file in a restricted directory, the attacker can run it with Administrator privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent this vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Cisco.
Monitor and restrict access to sensitive directories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access.
Regularly review and update file system permissions.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Cisco.
Apply security patches promptly to mitigate risks.