CVE-2020-3394 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in the Enable Secret feature of Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches could allow an attacker to gain full administrative privileges.

Understanding CVE-2020-3394

This CVE involves a privilege escalation vulnerability in Cisco Nexus switches, potentially granting unauthorized access to administrative privileges.

What is CVE-2020-3394?

The vulnerability in the Enable Secret feature of Cisco Nexus switches allows a local attacker with valid credentials to issue the enable command and gain full administrative privileges without using the enable password.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3394

CVSS Base Score: 7.8 (High Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3394

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a logic error in the implementation of the enable command, enabling attackers to exploit it by logging in and issuing the enable command.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Cisco NX-OS Software
Vendor: Cisco
Affected Versions: Not applicable (n/a)

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an authenticated, local attacker needs valid credentials for the affected device to issue the enable command and gain full administrative privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from this vulnerability by following these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure access control and restrict unauthorized users.
Monitor and log all enable command executions.
Implement strong password policies.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch your Cisco Nexus switches.
Conduct security training for staff on best practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security patches and updates provided by Cisco to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.