CVE-2019-1795 : What You Need to Know

A security weakness in Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software allows unauthorized commands with root privileges, posing a risk to affected systems.

Understanding CVE-2019-1795

This CVE involves a command injection vulnerability in Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized commands with elevated privileges on the Linux operating system.

What is CVE-2019-1795?

The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of input for a specific CLI command on affected devices, requiring physical proximity for exploitation. Attackers can run arbitrary commands with root access by injecting malicious commands as arguments.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1795

CVSS Base Score: 6.7 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: High
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
User Interaction: None
Successful exploitation grants attackers root access to execute arbitrary commands on the Linux OS.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1795

This section delves into the vulnerability's specifics, affected systems, and exploitation methods.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute unauthorized commands with root privileges due to insufficient input validation on the CLI of affected Cisco software.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Cisco NX-OS Software
Vendor: Cisco
Vulnerable Versions: Less than 8.3(1) (unspecified)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers must be physically near the system
Requires injecting malicious commands as arguments
Successful exploitation grants unauthorized root access on the Linux OS

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-1795 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

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

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege
Regularly update and patch software and firmware

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from Cisco
Apply recommended patches and updates to mitigate the vulnerability