CVE-2023-20175 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2023
A vulnerability in a specific Cisco ISE CLI command could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform command injection attacks on the underlying operating system and elevate privileges to root. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have valid Read-only-level privileges or higher on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2023
This vulnerability resides within Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) where a command injection flaw exists in the command line interface implementation. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. When an authenticated local attacker with read-only or higher privileges submits maliciously crafted CLI commands, the system processes these inputs without sufficient verification, creating an opportunity for arbitrary command execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the underlying operating system of the Cisco ISE device, allowing attackers to execute commands with elevated privileges. This represents a critical security gap that transforms limited access into complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns of command injection attacks where attacker-controlled input is improperly handled by the system's command processing layer. The insufficient validation occurs at the CLI parsing level where user inputs are directly passed to system execution functions without proper sanitization or encoding. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, which classify the issue as command injection and improper validation of input. The attack vector requires local access with authentication credentials, but the privilege escalation aspect means that even users with read-only access can potentially achieve root-level system control. This represents a significant elevation of privilege vulnerability that violates the principle of least privilege.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over the underlying operating system. Once elevated to root privileges, an attacker can modify system files, install malicious software, access all network data, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Cisco ISE deployment, potentially exposing sensitive authentication data, network access policies, and user information. Organizations using Cisco ISE are particularly vulnerable since these devices often serve as critical network access control points, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of Cisco's security patches and updates as released through their official advisory channels. Network administrators should also enforce strict access controls limiting local CLI access to only essential personnel with verified credentials. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced, ensuring that users only receive the minimum permissions necessary for their roles. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous CLI usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary services, implementing secure configuration baselines, and regular security assessments can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation practices and proper secure coding methodologies in network infrastructure devices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1548 for abuse of privileges.