Summary

• A vulnerability in Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance (PCA) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to the system shell with the default cmuser user account and access the shell with a limited set of permissions.
  
  The vulnerability is due to an undocumented account that has a default and static password. This account is created during installation and cannot be changed or deleted without impacting the functionality of the system. The first time this account is used the system will request that the user change the default password.
  
  An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by remotely connecting to the affected system via SSH by using the undocumented account. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to access the system with the privileges of the cmuser user. This vulnerability allows the attacker to: access some sensitive data, such as the password file, system logs, and Cisco PCA database information; modify some data; run some internal executables; and potentially make the system unstable or inaccessible.
  
  Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. Workarounds are available.
  
  This advisory is available at the following link: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20151209-pca

Affected Products

• Vulnerable Products

  Any product running a vulnerable version of Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance Software is affected by this vulnerability. Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance Software releases prior to 11.0 are vulnerable.

  Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

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

Indicators of Compromise

• On a vulnerable version of Cisco PCA software, an administrator can connect as the root user to verify the password hash of the cmuser user. A value that is different from the one in the following example would indicate that the default password has been changed. A hash that does not match the example could imply that an attacker could have connected to the system and changed the default password.
  
  

  [root@CPCA106 ~]# cat /etc/shadow | grep cmuser cmuser:$6$gfITIXfh$zie5RAtd6e6dlJOxhSvJYeCaXygmbWWlJAqvy8v0ig.l1EADBEMrK0zkvovlusZ2X6ohxQs6GKdEcmvz86VuQ/:0:0:99999:0:::

  
  Administrators can change the password of the cmuser user by connecting as the root user and using the passwd command.
  
  An administrator could also check the /var/log/secure file and look for connection attempts from the cmuser user. The following example shows an attempt from the cmuser user to connect to the affected system:
  
  

  [root@CPCA106 ~]# cat /var/log/secure | grep cmuser
  Nov 30 16:24:21 CPCA106 sshd[3975]: pam_unix(sshd:account): expired password for user cmuser (root enforced)
  Nov 30 16:24:21 CPCA106 sshd[3975]: Accepted password for cmuser from x.x.x.x port 61345 ssh2
  Nov 30 16:24:21 CPCA106 sshd[3975]: pam_unix(sshd:session): session opened for user cmuser by (uid=0)

Workarounds

• An administrator should log in to the system by using the username cmuser and password cmuser and then change the default password. Alternatively, the password can be changed by connecting to the system as the root user and using the passwd command.

Fixed Software

• When considering software upgrades, customers are advised to consult the Cisco Security Advisories and Responses archive at http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and review subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.
  
  In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to upgrade 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.
  
  This vulnerability is fixed in Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance Software releases 11.0 and later.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

• The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is not aware of malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Source

• This vulnerability was discovered during the resolution of support cases.

URL

• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20151209-pca

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Status	Date
  1.0	Initial public release.	-	Final	2015-December-09

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