CVE-2023-20237 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-20237 was published by Cisco on August 16, 2023, and it is related to a vulnerability found in Cisco Intersight Virtual Appliance. The vulnerability could potentially allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to access internal HTTP services that would typically be inaccessible.

Understanding CVE-2023-20237

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-20237, including the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-20237?

CVE-2023-20237 is a vulnerability identified in Cisco Intersight Virtual Appliance. It stems from insufficient restrictions on internally accessible HTTP proxies, allowing an attacker to exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted CLI command. A successful exploit of this vulnerability could grant the attacker access to internal subnets beyond their intended access level.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20237

The impact of CVE-2023-20237 can range from unauthorized access to sensitive internal HTTP services to potential breaches of internal subnets, compromising the overall network security and confidentiality of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20237

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Cisco Intersight Virtual Appliance allows an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to access internal HTTP services through insufficient restrictions on internally accessible HTTP proxies. By submitting a crafted CLI command, the attacker could breach the intended access level and potentially access internal subnets.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Cisco Intersight Virtual Appliance versions 1.0.9-503, 1.0.9-536, 1.0.9-538, 1.0.9-558, and 1.0.9-561.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker submitting a crafted CLI command to exploit the insufficient restrictions on internally accessible HTTP proxies, thereby gaining unauthorized access to internal HTTP services.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-20237, certain measures can be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent potential exploitation of the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Cisco recommends applying the necessary updates and patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability promptly.
Ensure firewall rules are configured to restrict access to internal HTTP services.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses proactively.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches and updates to address the vulnerability in Cisco Intersight Virtual Appliance. It is crucial for users to apply these patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-20237.