CVE-2023-20153 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in specific Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) CLI commands, potentially allowing an authenticated, local attacker to execute command injection attacks on the underlying operating system and gain root privileges. The attacker must have valid Administrator privileges on the affected device to exploit these vulnerabilities.

Understanding CVE-2023-20153

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-20153, shedding light on what it entails and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-20153?

CVE-2023-20153 refers to the Cisco Identity Services Engine Command Injection Vulnerabilities. It relates to certain ISE CLI commands that are susceptible to exploitation by attackers to carry out command injections and escalate privileges to root level.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20153

The impact of CVE-2023-20153 is significant as it could potentially lead to unauthorized individuals gaining elevated privileges and executing malicious commands on the affected systems. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data stored on the target device.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20153

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-20153, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities in specific Cisco ISE CLI commands are primarily attributed to inadequate validation of user-supplied input. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by submitting crafted CLI commands, thereby bypassing security mechanisms and executing arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product in this CVE is the Cisco Identity Services Engine Software. The specific version affected is marked as "n/a," indicating that multiple versions of this software may be vulnerable to the identified command injection vulnerabilities.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-20153, an authenticated, local attacker with Administrator privileges on the target device can submit specially crafted CLI commands to execute arbitrary code. Successful exploitation could enable the attacker to escalate privileges to root and perform unauthorized actions on the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding the mitigation strategies and best practices to prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-20153 is crucial to enhancing overall system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately after the disclosure of this CVE, it is recommended to restrict access to the vulnerable CLI commands within the Cisco Identity Services Engine to authorized personnel only. Organizations should also monitor for any suspicious activities or unauthorized attempts to execute commands.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access control measures, regularly auditing CLI commands for potential vulnerabilities, and providing security awareness training to administrators can help mitigate the risk of command injection attacks in the long run.

Patching and Updates

Cisco may release patches or updates to address the vulnerabilities associated with CVE-2023-20153. It is crucial for organizations to regularly check for security advisories from Cisco and ensure that their software is up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.