CVE-2019-1780 : What You Need to Know

An inherent weakness has been found in Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software's CLI that could potentially enable a local attacker, who is authenticated and possesses administrator credentials, to run arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of a device affected by this issue with enhanced privileges.

Understanding CVE-2019-1780

This CVE involves a command injection vulnerability in Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software's CLI.

What is CVE-2019-1780?

The vulnerability allows a local attacker with administrator credentials to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device's operating system by manipulating specific CLI commands.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1780

CVSS Base Score: 4.2 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: High
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Availability Impact: Low

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1780

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate verification of arguments passed to certain CLI commands, allowing attackers to insert malicious input and execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Cisco NX-OS Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions Affected: Prior to 8.3(1)

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs valid administrator credentials and must insert malicious input as the argument of a compromised command.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-1780 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches and updates promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Restrict access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege for user accounts.
Conduct regular security training for administrators and users.
Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.
Keep systems and software up to date with the latest security patches.
Regularly review and update security policies and procedures.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.