Cisco Secure Client on Linux ISE Posture uncontrolled search path

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Cisco Secure Client on Linux. This impacts an unknown function of the component ISE Posture Module. Such manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-20338. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco Secure Client on Linux (the affected version unknown) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component ISE Posture Module. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uncontrolled search path vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-427. The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A vulnerability in the ISE Posture (System Scan) module of Cisco Secure Client for Linux could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to the use of an uncontrolled search path element. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a malicious library file to a specific directory in the filesystem and persuading an administrator to restart a specific process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with root privileges.

The weakness was disclosed 03/06/2024 as cisco-sa-secure-privesc-sYxQO6ds. The advisory is available at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2024-20338 since 11/08/2023. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/22/2025). This vulnerability is assigned to T1574 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• Cisco

Name

• Secure Client

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.cisco.com/

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