CVE-2018-0147: Cisco Secure Access Control System Java Deserialization Vulnerability

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2018-0147 is a high (CVSS 10.0) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS). It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 25-03-2022. EPSS estimates a 18.21% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 97.1% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 08-03-2018
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 25-03-2022
   Added to CISA KEVCisco Secure Access Control System Java Deserialization Vulnerability
3. 15-04-2022
   CISA remediation dueApply updates per vendor instructions.
4. 12-01-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A vulnerability in Java deserialization used by Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) prior to release 5.8 patch 9 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of user-supplied content by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object. An exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device with root privileges. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh25988.

• CWE-20Improper Input ValidationThe product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
• CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted DataThe product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.