CVE-2020-3214 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escalate their privileges to a user with root-level privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied content. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to load malicious software onto an affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3214 resides within Cisco IOS XE Software, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that affects numerous network devices including routers and switches. This weakness specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the operating system, creating a pathway for malicious actors who already possess valid credentials to elevate their access level from standard user to root-level administrator. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation processes that fail to properly sanitize or verify user-supplied content before processing, allowing attackers to manipulate system behavior through crafted inputs.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the software's insufficient validation of user-provided data during system operations, particularly when processing commands or configuration inputs. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, which occurs when a system fails to validate or incorrectly validates input data, leading to potential exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the privilege escalation mechanism within the IOS XE environment, where an authenticated user can leverage malformed input to bypass normal access controls and gain root-level privileges. This represents a significant operational risk as it transforms a potential lateral movement attack into a complete system compromise scenario.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for network infrastructure security. Once an attacker achieves root-level access, they can execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically mapping to T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where attackers exploit software flaws to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco IOS XE devices face potential exposure to advanced persistent threats that can compromise entire network segments, as root access enables complete control over routing decisions, traffic inspection capabilities, and network monitoring functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3214 require immediate implementation of software patches provided by Cisco through their security advisory process. Network administrators should ensure all affected devices receive the latest IOS XE software updates that address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control measures can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of least privilege principles and proper input sanitization in network operating systems, as recommended by NIST SP 800-53 security controls. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all devices running affected IOS XE versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar validation weaknesses in other network components, while implementing robust logging and monitoring solutions enables detection of suspicious privilege escalation activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.