CVE-2024-20324 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, local attacker to access WLAN configuration details including passwords.
This vulnerability is due to improper privilege checks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the show and show tech wireless CLI commands to access configuration details, including passwords. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access configuration details that they are not authorized to access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2025
This vulnerability resides within the command line interface of Cisco IOS XE Software, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of network devices. The issue stems from inadequate privilege validation mechanisms that fail to properly enforce access controls for sensitive configuration data. Attackers with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to escalate their access and retrieve confidential information from wireless network configurations.
The technical exploitation occurs through specific CLI commands that should normally be restricted to privileged users. The show and show tech wireless commands, when executed by unauthorized users, bypass the intended security boundaries and expose sensitive configuration parameters including authentication credentials. This improper privilege checking mechanism creates an access control vulnerability that allows low-privileged users to access data they should not be authorized to view, effectively violating the principle of least privilege. The flaw exists at the software level within the CLI processing logic where access controls are not properly enforced for wireless configuration data retrieval.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with credentials that can be used for further network compromise. Once an attacker gains access to wireless passwords and configuration details, they can potentially establish unauthorized connections to wireless networks, conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, or use the stolen credentials to access other network resources. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the wireless network infrastructure and compromises the confidentiality of network communications. The exposure of wireless configuration details including passwords creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco IOS XE devices for their network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to CLI commands through proper user privilege management and implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement. The recommended approach involves applying the latest security patches from Cisco as provided in their advisory, configuring proper access control lists to restrict CLI command execution, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular privilege reviews to ensure users only have access to necessary commands and data. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern for organizations following ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. The weakness demonstrates how insufficient privilege validation can lead to unauthorized data access and should be addressed through comprehensive security controls including proper user management, access logging, and regular security assessments.