CVE-2022-20865 in FXOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2022
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco FXOS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. The attacker would need to have Administrator privileges on the device. This 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 command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20865 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Cisco FXOS Software Command Line Interface. This security weakness specifically targets the authentication and input processing mechanisms of the software, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability resides in the insufficient validation of user-supplied commands, which allows malicious input to bypass normal security controls and execute with elevated privileges. The attack vector requires an authenticated session with administrator-level access, making it a local privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a remote attack surface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the CLI processing functions of FXOS Software. When administrators submit commands through the interface, the system fails to adequately sanitize or validate the input parameters before executing them within the underlying operating system context. This insufficient validation creates a command injection scenario where crafted input can be interpreted and executed as system commands with root privileges. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate administrative functions process user input without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that are then executed with the highest available privileges. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, specifically addressing command injection vulnerabilities where user-supplied data is not properly validated or escaped before being processed by system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected device's underlying operating system. Once exploited, the attacker gains root access to execute arbitrary code, modify system files, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects Cisco FXOS Software versions prior to the patched releases, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of network infrastructure. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid administrator credentials, but the subsequent privilege escalation provides complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by potentially enabling unauthorized access, data manipulation, and system integrity violations. Organizations relying on Cisco FXOS Software for network infrastructure management face significant risk exposure, as successful exploitation could lead to complete network compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-20865 should focus on immediate software updates and access control hardening. Cisco has released security patches addressing this vulnerability, and organizations must prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and ensure that only authorized personnel have administrator privileges on affected devices. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting administrative access to only those individuals who require such privileges for their specific duties. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement, and conducting regular security assessments of administrative access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing robust audit logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068 highlights the importance of protecting administrative accounts and monitoring for privilege escalation activities within the network infrastructure.