CVE-2020-28251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

NETSCOUT AirMagnet Enterprise 11.1.4 build 37257 and earlier has a sensor escalated privileges vulnerability that can be exploited to provide someone with administrative access to a sensor, with credentials to invoke a command to provide root access to the operating system. The attacker must complete a straightforward password-cracking exercise.

Understanding CVE-2020-28251

This CVE involves a vulnerability in NETSCOUT AirMagnet Enterprise that allows unauthorized access to the system.

What is CVE-2020-28251?

The vulnerability in NETSCOUT AirMagnet Enterprise 11.1.4 build 37257 and earlier enables an attacker to gain administrative access to a sensor and subsequently obtain root access to the operating system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-28251

The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-28251

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to escalate privileges on a sensor, granting them unauthorized administrative and root access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: NETSCOUT AirMagnet Enterprise
Versions affected: 11.1.4 build 37257 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker needs to perform a password-cracking exercise to exploit the vulnerability and gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-28251 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.
Enforce strong password policies to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update and patch the NETSCOUT AirMagnet Enterprise software to address known vulnerabilities.