Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to modify user passwords. The vulnerability is due to improper security restrictions on user password change functions in the web-based management interface of the Cisco Secure ACS application. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to the system. If successful, the attacker could modify user account passwords. Cisco has confirmed this vulnerability in a security advisory and released updated software. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must be able to send malicious requests to the targeted system. Attackers may require access to internal networks to accomplish an exploit. Cisco indicates through the CVSS score that functional exploit code exists; however, the code is not known to be publicly available.
Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to modify user passwords.
The vulnerability is due to improper security restrictions on user password change functions in the web-based management interface of the Cisco Secure ACS application. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to the system. If successful, the attacker could modify user account passwords.
Cisco has confirmed this vulnerability in a security advisory and released updated software.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must be able to send malicious requests to the targeted system. Attackers may require access to internal networks to accomplish an exploit.
Cisco indicates through the CVSS score that functional exploit code exists; however, the code is not known to be publicly available.
Cisco has released a security advisory for Cisco bug ID CSCtl77440 at the following link: cisco-sa-20110330-acs
The following Cisco Secure ACS versions are affected by this vulnerability. Both the hardware appliance and the software-only versions of the product are vulnerable.
Administrators are advised to apply the available software updates.
Administrators may consider using IP-based access control lists (ACLs) to allow only trusted systems to access the web-based management interface on affected systems.
Administrators are advised to monitor critical systems.
The Cisco Applied Intelligence team has created the following companion document to guide administrators in identifying and mitigating attempts to exploit this vulnerability prior to applying updated software: cisco-amb-20110330-acs
Cisco customers with active contracts can obtain updates through the Software Center at the following link: Cisco. Cisco customers without contracts can obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical Assistance Center at 1-800-553-2447 or 1-408-526-7209 or via e-mail at tac@cisco.com.
The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.
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.
| Version | Description | Section | Status | Date |
| 1.0 | Initial Release | NA | Final | 2011-Mar-30 |
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