# CVE-2018-0271: Auth bypass in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication in Cisco DNA Center API gateway via crafted URLs, gaining elevated privileges.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 May 2018
- **Updated:** 29 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cmgw-hg4c-4pp2

## What is CVE-2018-0271?

CVE-2018-0271 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center, published on 17 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the API gateway of the Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and access critical services. The vulnerability is due to a failure to normalize URLs prior to servicing requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted URL designed to exploit the issue. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain unauthenticated access to critical services, resulting in elevated privileges in DNA Center. This vulnerability affects Cisco DNA Center Software Releases prior to 1.1.2. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvi09394.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-0271?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-0271?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-0271 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-0271 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0271 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center

- [CVE-2018-0222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0222/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-0268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0268/): Misconfiguration in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-0448](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0448/): Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-15386](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15386/): Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center Unauthenticated Access Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-1848](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1848/): Cisco DNA Center Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-0271 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-0271 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center, published on 17 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0271 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0271/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0271/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0271
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0271
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-0271

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0271/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.