CVE-2019-1774 in NX-OS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments passed to certain CLI commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including malicious input as the argument of an affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with elevated privileges. An attacker would need valid administrator credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1774 represents a critical command injection flaw within Cisco NX-OS Software's command line interface implementation. This security weakness specifically affects network devices running Cisco NX-OS operating systems and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CLI processing subsystem. The flaw exists in how the system handles arguments passed to specific CLI commands, creating a pathway for malicious input to be interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being properly sanitized. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic insufficient input validation issue that allows attackers to manipulate command execution flows through carefully crafted input parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, establishing a privilege escalation vector that operates within the bounds of legitimate administrative access. This authentication requirement significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as the vulnerability can be leveraged by malicious insiders or compromised administrator accounts. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges on the underlying operating system, potentially allowing full system compromise and access to sensitive network infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple command execution as it provides a potential foothold for further lateral movement within network environments and could facilitate data exfiltration or system disruption operations.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security posture and infrastructure integrity. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining secure administrative access while ensuring that legitimate operational tasks can be performed without compromising system security. The vulnerability affects Cisco NX-OS devices including but not limited to Nexus 7000, 9000 series switches, and other network infrastructure components running vulnerable software versions. The potential for unauthorized command execution with elevated privileges creates opportunities for attackers to modify system configurations, install backdoors, or establish persistent access points within network environments. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the security controls designed to protect critical network infrastructure from unauthorized access and manipulation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Cisco's security patches and updates to address the vulnerability in affected systems. Network administrators must enforce strict access controls and monitoring of CLI activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of privileged access management solutions and regular security audits can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection and improper input handling, and maps to ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and command and control operations. Regular vulnerability assessments and security awareness training for administrative personnel can help reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering or credential compromise attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and secure coding practices in network infrastructure software development and deployment.