CVE-2018-0217 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A security flaw has been discovered in the CLI of the Cisco StarOS operating system, designed for Cisco ASR 5000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, allowing a local attacker with system authentication to execute a command injection attack.

Understanding CVE-2018-0217

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Cisco StarOS operating system that could be exploited by an authenticated local attacker to inject and execute unauthorized commands.

What is CVE-2018-0217?

The vulnerability arises from inadequate validation of commands within the CLI of the Cisco StarOS operating system, enabling a local attacker with system authentication to perform a command injection attack.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0217

An authenticated local attacker can execute arbitrary commands within the CLI of the affected system.
Successful exploitation requires the attacker to have valid administrator credentials.
This vulnerability is tracked by Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg29441.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0217

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco StarOS allows an attacker to inject crafted arguments into vulnerable CLI commands, leading to unauthorized command execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco StarOS
Version: Cisco StarOS

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker must be authenticated locally with valid administrator credentials.
Injection of carefully crafted arguments into vulnerable CLI commands on the affected system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-0217 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches and updates promptly.
Monitor system logs for any unusual activities.
Restrict access to the CLI to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations.
Conduct security training for administrators on best practices.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from Cisco.
Apply recommended patches and updates to the Cisco StarOS operating system.