CVE-2023-20121 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE pertains to multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM), Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), and Cisco Prime Infrastructure. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape the restricted shell and gain root privileges on the underlying operating system.

Understanding CVE-2023-20121

This CVE involves command injection vulnerabilities in the mentioned Cisco products, posing a significant risk if exploited by malicious actors.

What is CVE-2023-20121?

The vulnerability allows an attacker with local access to the system to break out of the restricted shell and escalate privileges to root on the target operating system. This could lead to unauthorized access and control of critical network infrastructure components.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20121

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in severe consequences, including unauthorized access, data theft, system manipulation, and potential disruption of network services. It poses a direct threat to the security and integrity of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20121

The following technical aspects provide more insights into the nature of this vulnerability and its implications:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is related to command injection in Cisco EPNM, ISE, and Prime Infrastructure, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges beyond the intended restrictions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Cisco Identity Services Engine Software is confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability. The specific affected versions are currently unspecified.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires local access to the targeted system. By exploiting the command injection flaw in the restricted shell, an attacker can execute malicious commands to gain unauthorized root access.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial for organizations using the affected Cisco products to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20121.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply security updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability promptly.
Implement strict access controls and monitoring mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update the security posture of network infrastructure components.
Conduct thorough security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all relevant security patches and updates released by Cisco are applied in a timely manner to safeguard against known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2023-20121.