CVE-2017-6775 : What You Need to Know

A weakness has been discovered in the command-line interface (CLI) of Cisco ASR 5000 Series Aggregated Services Routers that are operating with the Cisco StarOS operating system, allowing privilege escalation to admin-level privileges.

Understanding CVE-2017-6775

What is CVE-2017-6775?

This vulnerability in Cisco ASR 5000 Series Routers running StarOS enables authenticated local users to elevate their privileges to admin-level by exploiting improper permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6775

The vulnerability allows attackers to gain admin-level privileges and potentially take control of the affected device, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6775

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from incorrect permissions assigned to a specific group of users in the CLI of Cisco ASR 5000 Series Routers running StarOS.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: StarOS for ASR 5000 Series Aggregated Services Routers
Vendor: Cisco Systems, Inc.
Affected Version: 21.0.v0.65839

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by logging into the shell of an impacted device and modifying environment variables to escalate their privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Cisco recommends applying the necessary updates and patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and adjust user permissions to ensure the principle of least privilege is followed.
Conduct security training for users to recognize and report potential security threats.

Patching and Updates

Install the latest updates and security patches released by Cisco to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.