CVE-2023-44037 in Nodegrid OS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An issue in ZPE Systems, Inc Nodegrid OS v.5.8.10 thru v.5.8.13 and v.5.10.3 thru v.5.10.5 allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information via the TACACS+ server component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-44037 affects ZPE Systems, Inc Nodegrid OS versions ranging from 5.8.10 through 5.8.13 and 5.10.3 through 5.10.5, representing a significant security weakness in the TACACS+ server implementation. This issue enables remote attackers to extract sensitive information through the TACACS+ server component, which serves as a critical authentication and authorization framework for network devices. The TACACS+ protocol is widely deployed in enterprise environments for managing access to network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it directly impacts the security posture of systems relying on this authentication mechanism.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the TACACS+ server component, where insufficient input validation and output sanitization allow unauthorized access to confidential information. This weakness manifests when remote attackers can exploit the server's response handling to extract credentials, configuration details, or other privileged information that should remain protected. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires network connectivity to the affected system, making it accessible to attackers positioned outside the network perimeter. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes weaknesses related to improper information exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it can enable further exploitation attempts and compromise the integrity of the entire network authentication infrastructure. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain access to authentication credentials that may be used to escalate privileges, access additional network resources, or conduct lateral movement attacks. The affected versions span multiple release branches, indicating a widespread issue that affects organizations with deployed Nodegrid OS systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the security controls that organizations rely upon for network access management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected systems to the latest available versions, disabling unnecessary TACACS+ services when not required, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected components. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious TACACS+ communications and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software and ensure that access controls are properly configured to minimize the attack surface. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to prepare for potential exploitation of this information disclosure vulnerability.