CVE-2021-1438 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2021-1438, a vulnerability in Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) Software that allows unauthorized data access. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain access to sensitive information on an affected device.
Understanding CVE-2021-1438
This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) Software that enables an authenticated, local attacker to extract sensitive data from the affected device.
What is CVE-2021-1438?
The vulnerability in Cisco WAAS Software arises from improper input validation and authorization of specific commands in the CLI, letting an attacker read arbitrary files beyond their permissions through specific commands.
The Impact of CVE-2021-1438
With a CVSS base score of 5.5, this medium-severity vulnerability has a high impact on confidentiality but does not affect availability or integrity of the data. An attacker can exploit it locally with low privileges.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-1438
This section delves deeper into the vulnerability specifics.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows local attackers to access unauthorized information by exploiting authentication to read confidential files on the device.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) software with all versions being susceptible.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and issuing specific commands to access restricted files.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting your systems from CVE-2021-1438 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to apply security updates as soon as they are made available by Cisco to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing least privilege access, monitoring system logs, and conducting regular security audits can help prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for security advisories from Cisco and promptly apply relevant patches to secure your systems.