Cisco Integrated Management Controller Privilege Escalation Vulnerability – Source:sec.cloudapps.cisco.com

High

Summary

• A vulnerability in the SSH connection handling of Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) for Cisco UCS B-Series, UCS C-Series, UCS S-Series, and UCS X-Series Servers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access internal services with elevated privileges.

  This vulnerability is due to insufficient restrictions on access to internal services. An attacker with a valid user account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted syntax when connecting to the Cisco IMC of an affected device through SSH. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access internal services with elevated privileges, which may allow unauthorized modifications to the system, including the possibility of creating new administrator accounts on the affected device.

  Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability, but a mitigation is available.

  This advisory is available at the following link:
  https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ucs-ssh-priv-esc-2mZDtdjM

Affected Products

• This vulnerability affects the following Cisco products if they are running a vulnerable software release and they accept incoming SSH connections to the Cisco IMC:

  • UCS B-Series Blade Servers (CSCwk24502)
  • UCS C-Series Rack Servers (CSCwc06871)
  • UCS S-Series Storage Servers (CSCwc06871)
  • UCS X-Series Modular System (CSCwk24502)

  Note: Cisco UCS C-Series and UCS S-Series Servers in standalone mode accept incoming SSH connections by default. For additional details, see the Configuring SSH section of the Cisco UCS C-Series Integrated Management Controller GUI Configuration Guide. Cisco UCS B-Series, Managed UCS C-Series, Managed UCS S-Series, and UCS X-Series Servers accept incoming SSH connections only if a Serial over LAN (SoL) policy is enabled on the associated Service Profile. For additional details, see the Serial over LAN Policy Settings section of the Cisco UCS Manager Server Management Guide.

  Cisco appliances that are based on a preconfigured version of a Cisco UCS C-Series Server are also affected by this vulnerability if they expose SSH access to the Cisco IMC. At the time of publication, this included the following Cisco products:

  • Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) Servers
  • Business Edition 6000 and 7000 Appliances
  • Catalyst Center Appliances, formerly DNA Center
  • Cisco Telemetry Broker Appliance
  • Cloud Services Platform (CSP) 5000 Series
  • Common Services Platform Collector (CSPC) Appliances
  • Connected Mobile Experiences (CMX) Appliances
  • Connected Safety and Security UCS Platform Series Servers
  • Cyber Vision Center Appliances
  • Expressway Series Appliances
  • HyperFlex Edge Nodes
  • HyperFlex Nodes
  • IEC6400 Edge Compute Appliances
  • IOS XRv 9000 Appliances
  • Meeting Server 1000 Appliances
  • Nexus Dashboard Appliances
  • Prime Infrastructure Appliances
  • Prime Network Registrar Jumpstart Appliances
  • Secure Endpoint Private Cloud Appliances
  • Secure Firewall Management Center Appliances, formerly Firepower Management Center
  • Secure Malware Analytics Appliances
  • Secure Network Analytics Appliances
  • Secure Network Server Appliances
  • Secure Workload Servers

  For information about which Cisco software releases are vulnerable, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory.

  Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

  Cisco has confirmed that this vulnerability does not affect the following Cisco products:

  • 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute Systems (ENCS)
  • Catalyst 8300 Series Edge uCPE
  • UCS E-Series Servers

Workarounds

• There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. However, there is a mitigation.

  If it is not required, SSH access to the Cisco IMC of an affected device may be disabled.

  For Cisco UCS C-Series and UCS S-Series Servers in standalone mode, choose Admin > Communication Services on the Cisco IMC web UI and uncheck the SSH Enabled option.

  For Cisco UCS B-Series, Managed UCS C-Series, Managed UCS S-Series, and UCS X-Series Servers, disable the Serial over LAN (SoL) policy on the associated Service Profile (SoL access is disabled by default). From the Servers section of the Cisco UCS Manager web UI, do the following:

  1. Choose the Service Profile in question.
  2. Click the Change Serial over LAN Policy link under Actions in the Policies tab.
  3. Choose the No Serial over LAN Policy option.
  4. Click OK.

  Alternatively, edit the applied Serial Over LAN Policy under Policies > Serial Over LAN Policies and change the Serial over LAN State property from Enable to Disable. This would disable SoL access for all the Service Profiles that are using the SoL policy in question.

  While this mitigation has been deployed and was proven successful in a test environment, customers should determine the applicability and effectiveness in their own environment and under their own use conditions. Customers should be aware that any workaround or mitigation that is implemented may negatively impact the functionality or performance of their network based on intrinsic customer deployment scenarios and limitations. Customers should not deploy any workarounds or mitigations before first evaluating the applicability to their own environment and any impact to such environment.

Fixed Software

• Cisco has released free software updates that address the vulnerability described in this advisory. Customers with service contracts that entitle them to regular software updates should obtain security fixes through their usual update channels.

  Customers may only install and expect support for software versions and feature sets for which they have purchased a license. By installing, downloading, accessing, or otherwise using such software upgrades, customers agree to follow the terms of the Cisco software license:
  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/end-user-license-agreement.html

  Additionally, customers may only download software for which they have a valid license, procured from Cisco directly, or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner. In most cases this will be a maintenance upgrade to software that was previously purchased. Free security software updates do not entitle customers to a new software license, additional software feature sets, or major revision upgrades.

  The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information about licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool.

  When considering software upgrades, customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for Cisco products, which are available from the Cisco Security Advisories page, to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.

  In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers.

  Customers Without Service Contracts

  Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco TAC: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-worldwide-contacts.html

  Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.

  Fixed Releases

  In the following tables, the left column lists Cisco software releases. The right column indicates whether a release is affected by the vulnerability that is described in this advisory and the first release that includes the fix for this vulnerability.

  UCS B-Series and X-Series Servers in UCS Manager Mode

  Cisco UCS Server Software Release	First Fixed Release
  Earlier than 4.1	Migrate to a fixed release.
  4.1	4.1(3n)
  4.2	4.2(3k)
  4.3	4.3(4c)

  UCS B-Series Servers in Intersight Managed Mode

  Cisco Intersight Server Firmware Release	First Fixed Release
  Earlier than 4.2	Migrate to a fixed release.
  4.2	4.2(3i)
  5.1	Migrate to a fixed release.
  5.2	5.2(2.240073)
  5.3	Not vulnerable.
  5.4	Not vulnerable.

  UCS X-Series Servers in Intersight Managed Mode

  Cisco Intersight Server Firmware Release	First Fixed Release
  5.0	5.0(4f)
  5.1	Migrate to a fixed release.
  5.2	5.2(2.240073)
  5.3	Not vulnerable.
  5.4	Not vulnerable.

  UCS C-Series and S-Series Servers in Standalone Mode or Intersight Managed Mode
  

  Cisco UCS Server Software Release	First Fixed Release
  Earlier than 4.2	Migrate to a fixed release.
  4.2	4.2(2f), 4.2(3b)
  4.3	Not vulnerable.

  UCS C-Series and S-Series Servers in UCS Manager Mode
  

  Cisco UCS Server Software Release	First Fixed Release
  Earlier than 4.2	Migrate to a fixed release.
  4.2	4.2(2c), 4.2(3b)
  4.3	Not vulnerable.

  Note: For Cisco appliances that are based on a preconfigured version of a Cisco UCS C-Series Server, administrators can perform a direct upgrade of the Cisco IMC software to one of the fixed releases as indicated in the preceding tables. For instructions, see the Cisco Host Upgrade Utility User Guide. The exceptions are the appliances that are listed in the following table. For these appliances, follow the instructions in the Remediation column:

  Cisco Hardware Platform	Remediation
  Cisco Telemetry Broker Appliance	Apply the firmware update m6-tb2300-ctb-firmware-4.3-2.240009.iso or later.
  IEC6400 Edge Compute Appliances	Apply the HUU upgrade using IEC6400-HUU-4.2.3j.img.
  Secure Endpoint Private Cloud Appliances	Follow the steps documented in the TechNote.
  Secure Firewall Management Center Appliances	Apply Hotfix EN or later.
  Secure Malware Analytics Appliances	Upgrade to release 2.19.4 or later and follow the Updating Firmware Procedure.
  Secure Network Analytics Appliances	Install Update Patch patch-common-SNA-FIRMWARE-20240305-v2-01.swu or later.
  Secure Network Server Appliances	Apply the BIOS and HUU upgrade as documented in the Firmware Upgrade Guide for Cisco SNS 3700 Series or Cisco SNS 3600 Series.

  The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) validates only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

• The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Source

• This vulnerability was found during internal security testing.

Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy

• To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.

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Related to This Advisory

URL

• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ucs-ssh-priv-esc-2mZDtdjM

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Status	Date
  1.0	Initial public release.	–	Final	2025-JUN-04

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