CVE-2023-37518 in BigFix ServiceNow Data Flow
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2024
HCL BigFix ServiceNow is vulnerable to arbitrary code injection. A malicious authorized attacker could inject arbitrary code and execute within the context of the running user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37518 affects HCL BigFix ServiceNow, a widely deployed IT service management platform that integrates with various enterprise systems to provide automated compliance and configuration management capabilities. This critical security flaw resides within the platform's code execution mechanisms, specifically within the authentication and authorization framework that processes user requests and system commands. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before executing user-supplied commands, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
The technical flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that operates at the application layer, classified under CWE-77 and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability occurs when the system processes user inputs without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that execute with the privileges of the running service account. This particular weakness affects the platform's handling of API requests and administrative commands, where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into system execution paths without proper validation or encoding. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it requires only authorized access to the system, meaning that an attacker with legitimate credentials can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive enterprise data and system resources. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation, and persistence establishment within the enterprise environment. The affected ServiceNow platform typically handles critical configuration management tasks, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise infrastructure. Attackers could potentially gain access to system logs, configuration files, user credentials, and other sensitive information that would normally be protected by proper access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-37518 should focus on immediate patch deployment from HCL, combined with network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious API activity. Organizations should implement strict input validation controls, employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security assessments of their ServiceNow implementations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and principle of least privilege enforcement, as recommended by NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards. Security teams should also establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized code execution attempts and maintain detailed audit trails of system modifications. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation can help reduce the attack surface for this particular vulnerability.