CVE-2023-20107 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the deterministic random bit generator (DRBG) in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software, potentially allowing an attacker to discover the private key of an affected device.

Understanding CVE-2023-20107

This vulnerability affects Cisco ASA 5506-X, ASA 5508-X, and ASA 5516-X Firewalls due to insufficient entropy in the DRBG for generating cryptographic keys.

What is CVE-2023-20107?

The CVE-2023-20107 vulnerability in Cisco ASA and FTD Software could be exploited by an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause a cryptographic collision, enabling the attacker to discover the private key of the targeted device.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20107

If successfully exploited, an attacker could impersonate an affected target device or decrypt traffic secured by an affected key sent to or from the targeted device, compromising the confidentiality of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20107

This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is through the network with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are considered low.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient entropy in the DRBG in ASA and FTD Software when generating cryptographic keys, allowing an attacker to exploit the weak random bit generation process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Cisco
Product: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
Affected Versions: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by generating a large number of cryptographic keys on an affected device to look for collisions with target devices, potentially revealing private keys.

Mitigation and Prevention

It's crucial for organizations to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20107 and implement long-term security practices to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should consider implementing additional security measures, monitoring network traffic for any signs of exploitation, and applying patches or updates provided by Cisco.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update cryptographic key generation procedures, conduct security assessments to identify vulnerabilities, and ensure secure configuration of network devices to prevent such exploits in the future.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has likely released patches to address the vulnerability. It is essential for organizations to promptly apply these patches to secure their Cisco ASA and FTD Software installations against potential threats.