CVE-2019-16103 in EdgeConnect SD-WAN
Summary
by MITRE
Silver Peak EdgeConnect SD-WAN before 8.1.7.x allows privilege escalation (by administrators) from the menu to a root Bash OS shell via the spsshell feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16103 affects Silver Peak EdgeConnect SD-WAN appliances running versions prior to 8.1.7.x, presenting a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables administrators to gain root access to the underlying operating system. This vulnerability specifically exploits the spsshell feature, which is designed to provide secure shell access but contains a flaw that allows authenticated administrative users to escalate their privileges and execute commands with root-level permissions. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in the appliance's access control mechanisms, as it bypasses normal administrative boundaries and provides direct access to the underlying operating system shell.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the spsshell feature, where administrative users can leverage the system's authentication mechanisms to execute commands with elevated privileges. This type of flaw falls under CWE-269, which describes improper privilege management, and specifically relates to CWE-78, which addresses OS command injection vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists because the system fails to properly validate or restrict the privileges associated with the spsshell functionality, allowing an authenticated user with administrative rights to escalate their privileges to root level access. This creates a dangerous situation where any user with administrative credentials can bypass normal security controls and gain complete system control.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe threat to organizations relying on Silver Peak EdgeConnect appliances for their software-defined wide area network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as root access provides attackers with complete control over the appliance's operating system, including the ability to modify system files, install malicious software, access all network traffic, and potentially use the compromised appliance as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire SD-WAN infrastructure, as the compromised appliance can be used to intercept communications, modify network policies, or serve as a persistent backdoor. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1566, which involves social engineering through credential compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Silver Peak EdgeConnect SD-WAN version 8.1.7.x or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also review and restrict access to the spsshell feature, implementing the principle of least privilege by limiting which administrative users can access this functionality. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious shell access patterns, and security policies should be updated to require multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their SD-WAN infrastructure to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited to achieve similar privilege escalation outcomes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in network infrastructure devices and highlights the need for regular security updates and comprehensive vulnerability management programs.