CVE-2023-20235 : What You Need to Know

This article provides insight into CVE-2023-20235, a vulnerability found in the Cisco IOx application hosting infrastructure within Cisco IOS XE Software.

Understanding CVE-2023-20235

In this section, we will delve into the details of CVE-2023-20235 and understand its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-20235?

CVE-2023-20235 is a vulnerability in the on-device application development workflow feature of the Cisco IOx application hosting infrastructure in Cisco IOS XE Software. It allows an authenticated, remote attacker to access the underlying operating system as the root user. The vulnerability arises due to Docker containers with the privileged runtime option not being blocked in application development mode.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20235

This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.5, categorizing it as medium severity. An attacker could exploit this flaw using the Docker CLI to gain access to the affected device as the root user. The misuse of this vulnerability could lead to confidentiality and integrity breaches within the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20235

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-20235, including its vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated, remote attacker to access the underlying operating system as the root user by leveraging Docker containers with the privileged runtime option in application development mode.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Cisco IOS XE Software, with all versions being affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by utilizing the Docker CLI to gain access to the affected device. This exploitation can compromise the security of the underlying operating system.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20235 and prevent any potential security breaches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Cisco advises users to restrict access to devices running Cisco IOS XE Software to only trusted administrators.
It is recommended to disable the on-device application development workflow feature in production systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments and audits should be conducted to identify and address any vulnerabilities in the system.
Educate users and administrators about secure development practices and the risks associated with unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly encouraged to apply the latest security updates provided by Cisco to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20235.