CVE-2019-1692:Unauthenticated remote information disclosure vulnerability in Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) web-based management interface, affecting APIC versions prior to 4.1(1i).

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CVE-2019-1692 describes an information disclosure vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco APIC. The flaw arises from insufficient data protection for certain components within the underlying Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). An unauthenticated, remote attacker could observe network traffic when interacting with the APIC web interface and potentially access and collect sensitive tracking data and usage statistics from an affected device. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.0 base score of 5.3 (Medium) with no privileges required and no user interaction, and the impact on confidentiality is Low. Cisco PSIRT notes that there were no known public disclosures or malicious uses at the time of advisement. The issue affects APIC versions less than 4.1(1i).

Overview

This CVE covers an information disclosure weakness in Cisco APIC’s web-based management interface. Because proper data protection was not implemented for certain ACI components, an unauthenticated remote attacker could observe traffic through the APIC and harvest usage statistics and tracking data. The vulnerability is rated medium in severity (CVSS v3.0: 5.3) with network attack potential, no required privileges, and no user interaction. Cisco indicated no known public exploit at the time, and the issue specifically affects APIC before version 4.1(1i).

Remediation

  • Upgrade APIC to the fixed version (4.1(1i)) or a later release as specified by Cisco. This is the primary remediation to mitigate the vulnerability.
  • Apply the Cisco advisory cisco-sa-20190501-apic-info-disc to ensure any vendor-specific mitigations or guidance are followed.
  • Restrict exposure of the APIC web-based management interface to trusted networks (e.g., deploy behind a VPN, use ACLs, or place in a segmented management network) to reduce the attack surface.
  • Enable and enforce strong transport security for the management interface (use HTTPS/TLS with valid certificates; ensure TLS configuration is current and secure).
  • Implement network-based monitoring and logging of access to the APIC management interface to detect unusual or unauthorized attempts to view usage data.
  • Validate configurations to ensure management plane access is not inadvertently exposed to the untrusted network; perform regular vulnerability and configuration reviews.
  • If immediate upgrade is not possible, apply compensating controls per Cisco guidance (restrict management access, use jump hosts/VPN, and monitor traffic) and plan for an upgrade as soon as feasible.

References

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Accommodation & Food Services: Low
    Accommodation & Food Services
  2. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services: Low
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  3. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting: Low
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  4. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: Low
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  5. Construction: Low
    Construction
  6. Educational Services: Low
    Educational Services
  7. Finance and Insurance: Low
    Finance and Insurance
  8. Health Care & Social Assistance: Low
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  9. Information: Low
    Information
  10. Management of Companies & Enterprises: Low
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  11. Manufacturing: Low
    Manufacturing
  12. Mining: Low
    Mining
  13. Other Services (except Public Administration): Low
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  14. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services: Low
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  15. Public Administration: Low
    Public Administration
  16. Real Estate Rental & Leasing: Low
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  17. Retail Trade: Low
    Retail Trade
  18. Transportation & Warehousing: Low
    Transportation & Warehousing
  19. Utilities: Low
    Utilities
  20. Wholesale Trade: Low
    Wholesale Trade

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  1. See Everything.
  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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