CVE-2024-20295 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2024
A vulnerability in the CLI of the Cisco Integrated Management Controller (IMC) 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, the attacker must have read-only or higher privileges on an 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 • 05/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20295 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Command Line Interface of Cisco Integrated Management Controller systems. This security weakness resides in the underlying operating system's handling of user-supplied input, creating a pathway for authenticated local attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects Cisco IMC devices where proper input validation mechanisms have been inadequately implemented, allowing malicious input to bypass security controls and directly interact with the system's command processing functions. The flaw demonstrates a clear failure in input sanitization and validation processes that should prevent unauthorized command execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess at least read-only access privileges on the affected device, which significantly reduces the barrier to entry for potential exploitation. Once authenticated, the attacker can craft malicious CLI commands that exploit the insufficient input validation to inject and execute arbitrary system commands. This command injection occurs at the CLI level where user input is not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying operating system. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation from the current authenticated user level to root privileges, which provides complete control over the device's operating system and all its resources. The attack vector operates through the CLI interface, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate administrative access paths that are typically trusted by security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20295 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. An attacker with root-level access can manipulate system configurations, extract sensitive data, install malicious software, and establish persistent access points that could remain undetected for extended periods. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories, which address command injection vulnerabilities and improper input handling. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Setuid and Setgid) as it enables both command execution and privilege escalation. The vulnerability's presence in enterprise management controllers like Cisco IMC creates a significant risk for organizations as these devices often serve as critical infrastructure components for system monitoring and management, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to network environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including restricting local access to affected devices, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring for suspicious CLI activities. The recommended approach involves applying Cisco's official security patches and updates, configuring proper input validation controls, and establishing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should also implement enhanced logging and monitoring of CLI activities, particularly those involving privilege escalation attempts, to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards, which emphasize the need for robust access controls and input sanitization to prevent such critical security flaws from being exploited in production environments.