Cisco Security Agent Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation

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Updated:December 10, 2011
Document ID:1454787315875200

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Cisco Security Advisory

Cisco Security Agent Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation

Severity
Advisory ID:
cisco-sa-20051129-csa
First Published:
2005 November 29 16:00 GMT
Version 1.0:
Final
CVE-2005-3886
CVE-2005-3886

Summary

  • Cisco Security Agent (CSA) is a security software agent that provides threat protection for server and desktop computing systems. CSA agents can be managed by CiscoWorks VMS Management Center for Cisco Security Agents or can be standalone agents running on Cisco IP Communications application servers. Standalone agents for Cisco IP Communications application servers must be manually installed on the IP Communications application server.

    A vulnerability exists in CSA agents that can allow a privilege escalation through locally executed software, providing a normal user or attacker with local system level privileges on a Windows workstation or server running managed or standalone CSA 4.5.0 or 4.5.1 agents.

    Cisco has made free software available to address this vulnerability for affected customers.

    This advisory is posted at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20051129-csa

Affected Products

  • This section provides details on affected products.

    Vulnerable Products

    CSA 4.5.0 and 4.5.1 agents managed by CiscoWorks VMS Management Center for Cisco Security Agents and standalone agents running on Cisco IP Communications application servers are affected when running on:

    • Microsoft Windows platforms including:
      - Windows 2003
      - Windows 2000 Server and Advanced Server
      - Windows NT v4.0 Server and Enterprise Server (SP 6a)
      - Windows NT 4 Workstation (SP 6a)
      - Windows 2000 Professional
      - Windows XP Professional
    • Cisco CSA 4.5.0 (all builds) managed and standalone agents while running on Microsoft Windows
    • Cisco CSA 4.5.1 (all builds) managed and standalone agents while running on Microsoft Windows
    • Cisco CSA for CallManager versions 4.5.1 build 628 and 4.5.0 build 573.

      Note: These versions are used by CallManager, Cisco Conference Connection (CCC), Emergency Responder, IPCC Express, IP Interactive Voice Response (IP IVR), and IP Queue Manager

    • Cisco CSA for Intelligent Contact Management (ICM), IPCC Enterprise, and IPCC Hosted version 4.5.1 build 616
    • Cisco CSA for Cisco Voice Portal (CVP) 3.0 and 3.1 version 4.5.0 build 573.

      Note: This version is used by CVP 3.0 and 3.1 and CVP VXML Server.

    Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

    The following products are confirmed not vulnerable:

    • Cisco CSA 4.0.3 (all builds) and earlier managed and standalone agents
    • Cisco CSA 4.0.2 (all builds) and earlier managed and standalone agents
    • Cisco CSA 4.0.1 (all builds) and earlier managed and standalone agents
    • Cisco CSA 3.x versions
    • Okena Stormwatch 3.x versions
    • Cisco CSA agents running on Solaris
    • Cisco CSA agents running on Linux

    No other Cisco products are currently known to be affected by this vulnerability.

    Determining the CSA Client Version

    In order to determine which version of CSA is running on client machines, "right click" on the CSA icon in the Windows task bar. On the pop-up menu, selecting "About ..." will display the version number of the agent in a pop-up window containing text similar to "Cisco Security Agent V4.5 build 565."

    Determining the CSA Client Version with the Management Console

    You can also determine the CSA version using the Management Console for Cisco Security Agent on your CiscoWorks server. Complete these steps:

    1. Login at:
      http://ciscoworks-hostname:1741/
    2. Choose VPN/Security Managment Solution > Management Center > Security Agents, and then click the Security Agents tab.
      This launches the "Management Center for Cisco Security Agents."
    3. Within the browser window, locate the tab in the center marked "Help."
    4. Click the sub-item labeled "About." The version of the Cisco Security Agents appears in a pop-up window containing text similar to:
      Management Center for Cisco Security Agents V4.5-1 build 616.

    Note: You can only manage CSA 4.5.X Agents with Version 4.5-X (any build) Management Center for Cisco Security Agents.

Details

  • Cisco Security Agent provides threat protection for server and desktop computing systems. Vulnerable versions of Cisco Security Agent may allow software executed locally to bypass systems protections and run with elevated privileges resulting in normal users and attackers obtaining local system level privileges.

    Agent checks configured to prevent malicious software from running on a CSA protected system will be active; however, any checks that occur after successful exploitation may be bypassed.

    This issue is not related to a Microsoft Operating System issue nor can a CSA policy modification change this behavior.

    This vulnerability is documented in the Cisco Bug Toolkit as Bug ID CSCsc42373 ( registered customers only)

    For information about local system level privileges, refer to:

Workarounds

  • Workarounds for Cisco CSA 4.5.0 and 4.51 Managed Agents Running on Microsoft Windows

    • The risk of this issue can be mitigated by controlling the software allowed to run on workstations and servers.
    • Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent is a workaround for this particular issue but leaves the workstation or server at risk to all other issues that the agent provides protection against. Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent should only be considered as a last resort
    • There are no additional workarounds for this vulnerability. Please refer to the Obtaining Fixed Software section for appropriate solutions to resolve this vulnerability

    Mitigation and Best Practices for Cisco CallManager and Voice Application Servers

    • The risk of this issue can be mitigated by controlling the software allowed to run on the server. Cisco strongly recommends configuring and using only the software that is approved to be installed on Cisco CallManager and Voice Application Servers.
    • IP telephony network security best practices can provide additional mitigation.
    • Cisco CallManagers and Voice Application servers should be on their own, separate IP networks
    • Cisco CallManagers and Voice Application servers should be protected at layer 2.
    • Access controls should be employed to protect voice networks from attacks that may originate from the data network.
    • Follow Operating System hardening best practices for Cisco CallManagers and Voice Application servers.
    • Implement approved Anti-Virus software on Cisco CallManagers and voice application servers.
    • For additional information about IP telephony network security best practices refer to:
      IP Telephony SRND for Cisco CallManager 3.3

    Workarounds for Systems Protected by Standalone CSA Agents

    Cisco CSA for CallManager, CCC, Emergency Responder, IPCC Express, IP IVR, and IP Queue Manager

    Cisco CSA for ICM, IPCC Enterprise, and IPCC Hosted Version 4.5.1 build 616

    • Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent is a workaround this particular issue but leaves the workstation or server at risk to all other issues that the agent provides protection against. Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent should only be considered as a last resort.
    • Uninstall procedures can be found in the following document:
      CiscoICM70-CSA-Installation-User-Guide.pdf which is available at:
      http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/csa10-crypto
    • There are no additional workarounds for this vulnerability. Please see the Obtaining Fixed Software section for appropriate solutions to resolve this vulnerability.

    Cisco CSA for CVP 3.0 and 3.1 version 4.5.0 build 573. This version is used by CVP 3.0 and 3.1 and CVP VXML Server

    • Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent is a workaround this particular issue but leaves the workstation or server at risk to all other issues that the agent provides protection against. Disabling or uninstalling the CSA agent should only be considered as a last resort.
    • Uninstall procedures can be found in the following document:
      CiscoCVP-CSA-InstallationGuide.pdf which is available at:
      http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/csa-cvp-20
    • There are no additional workarounds for this vulnerability. Please refer to the Obtaining Fixed Software section for appropriate solutions to resolve this vulnerability.

Fixed Software

Exploitation and Public Announcements

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

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

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Revision History

  • Revision 1.0

    2005-November-29

    Initial Release

    Show Less

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.

Subscribe to Cisco Security Notifications

Related to This Advisory