CVE-2019-1782 in NX-OS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco FXOS Software and 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 administrator credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1782 represents a critical command injection flaw within the command line interface of Cisco FXOS and NX-OS software platforms. This security weakness affects network infrastructure devices that rely on Cisco's operating systems, creating a significant risk for organizations that depend on these platforms for their network operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's command processing architecture, specifically when handling arguments passed to certain CLI commands. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate the system's command execution flow by injecting malicious payloads into command arguments, effectively bypassing normal security controls and gaining unauthorized access to the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated administrative session, meaning that attackers must first obtain valid administrator credentials to initiate the attack. This prerequisite significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as credential compromise can occur through various means including phishing attacks, password spraying, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Once authenticated, an attacker can leverage the insufficient argument validation to inject malicious commands that execute with elevated privileges on the target system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple command execution, as the attacker gains access to the underlying operating system with full administrative capabilities, potentially allowing for complete system compromise and persistence within the network environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software systems.
The operational consequences of exploiting CVE-2019-1782 can be devastating for affected organizations, as it provides attackers with complete control over network devices that typically serve as critical infrastructure components. Network administrators may find their devices compromised without detection, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network disruption, or serving as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's presence in both FXOS and NX-OS software platforms means that organizations running Cisco networking equipment across multiple device types are at risk, including switches, routers, and unified computing systems. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for advanced persistent threats that could target network infrastructure to achieve long-term access and control over critical network resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Access control measures should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication and privileged access management systems to reduce the likelihood of credential compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation requires administrative credentials, making proper identity and access management crucial for defense. Additionally, network monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to limit administrative access to network devices, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues throughout the network infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and command and control techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the immediate threat and broader security posture.