CVE-2019-1611 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software and Cisco FXOS Software CLI allows an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device's operating system.

Understanding CVE-2019-1611

This CVE involves a command injection vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS and FXOS Software CLI, potentially leading to unauthorized command execution.

What is CVE-2019-1611?

The vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software and Cisco FXOS Software CLI enables a local attacker to run arbitrary commands on the affected device's underlying OS by exploiting insufficient validation of CLI command arguments.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1611

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 4.2. It requires high privileges for exploitation and can result in the execution of unauthorized commands with elevated privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1611

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate validation of arguments passed to specific CLI commands in Cisco NX-OS and FXOS Software, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized commands on the device's OS.

Affected Systems and Versions

Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewalls: Versions prior to 2.2.2.91, 2.3.1.110, 2.4.1.222
Firepower 9300 Security Appliance: Versions prior to 2.2.2.91, 2.3.1.110, 2.4.1.222
MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches: Versions prior to 6.2(25), 8.3(1)
Nexus 3000 Series Switches: Versions prior to 7.0(3)I4(9), 7.0(3)I7(5)
Nexus 3500 Platform Switches: Versions prior to 7.0(3)I7(5)
Nexus 3600 Platform Switches: Versions prior to 7.0(3)F3(5)
Nexus 2000, 5500, 5600, and 6000 Series Switches: Versions prior to 7.1(5)N1(1b), 7.3(4)N1(1)
Nexus 7000 and 7700 Series Switches: Versions prior to 6.2(22), 7.3(3)D1(1), 8.2(3)
Nexus 9000 Series Switches in Standalone NX-OS Mode: Versions prior to 7.0(3)I4(9), 7.0(3)I7(5)
Nexus 9500 R-Series Line Cards and Fabric Modules: Versions prior to 7.0(3)F3(5)

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker needs valid administrator credentials to exploit the vulnerability by inputting malicious data as an argument for a vulnerable command, allowing the execution of unauthorized commands on the OS.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-1611 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-recommended patches promptly
Monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation
Restrict access to vulnerable systems

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch affected systems
Implement least privilege access controls
Conduct security training for administrators

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address the vulnerability
Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches