CVE-2019-1816 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Web Security Appliance Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2019-1816

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the log subscription system of Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) that could allow an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary commands and gain root privileges.

What is CVE-2019-1816?

The vulnerability in Cisco WSA allows an attacker to perform command injection due to inadequate validation of user input on web and command-line interfaces.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1816

The vulnerability could lead to an attacker gaining root privileges on the affected device, potentially compromising the entire system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1816

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Cisco WSA's log subscription system enables an attacker to inject scripted commands, leading to command execution and root privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA)
Vulnerable Versions:
Less than 10.1.4-017
Less than 10.5.4-018
Less than 11.5.2-020
Less than 11.7.0-406

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must authenticate to the device and inject malicious commands within the log subscription system, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands and gain root access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to limit unauthorized access to critical systems.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to mitigate this vulnerability. Ensure timely application of these patches to secure the affected systems.