CVE-2019-1745 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of commands supplied by the user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to a device and submitting crafted input to the affected commands. An exploit could allow the attacker to gain root privileges on the affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2023
This vulnerability resides in Cisco IOS XE Software where insufficient input validation creates a critical security flaw that can be exploited by authenticated local attackers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied commands, allowing malicious input to bypass normal security controls. According to CWE-20, this represents a weakness where input is not properly validated or sanitized, creating potential for command injection attacks. The flaw specifically affects the command processing mechanisms within the software's privilege escalation pathways, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on these systems for device management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first authenticate to the target device using legitimate credentials, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. Once authenticated, the attacker can submit crafted input through specific commands that are processed by the vulnerable software components. This crafted input is then executed with elevated privileges, effectively allowing the attacker to gain root access to the device. The vulnerability operates at the privilege level where user input is directly interpreted and executed without proper validation, creating a direct path to system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the affected network devices. When an attacker achieves root privileges, they can modify system configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This represents a significant risk to network security posture and can lead to widespread compromise of network resources. The vulnerability affects Cisco IOS XE software versions that handle command processing, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on Cisco networking equipment for their infrastructure security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software patching to address the input validation deficiencies in Cisco IOS XE Software. Organizations should implement strict access controls and privilege management policies to limit authentication to only necessary personnel. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1548.001 for abuse of privileges, indicating that defensive measures should focus on both command execution monitoring and privilege escalation detection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across the network infrastructure.