CVE-2023-20254 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-20254 article provides details about a vulnerability discovered in the session management system of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager multi-tenant feature. The vulnerability, assigned by Cisco, was published on September 27, 2023.

Understanding CVE-2023-20254

The vulnerability identified in the session management system of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager multi-tenant feature could potentially allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access another tenant managed by the same Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager instance. This exploit requires the multi-tenant feature to be enabled.

What is CVE-2023-20254?

The CVE-2023-20254 vulnerability exists due to inadequate user session management within the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to the affected system. If successfully exploited, the attacker could gain unauthorized access to information about another tenant, manipulate configurations, or potentially disrupt a tenant's operations causing a denial of service situation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20254

The impact of CVE-2023-20254 could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, unauthorized configuration changes, or disruptions to a tenant's operations. This could result in data breaches, integrity compromises, and potential denial of service conditions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20254

The affected system identified in this CVE is the Cisco SD-WAN vManage. Numerous versions of the product are affected by this vulnerability, including versions 17.2.6, 18.4.3, 19.2.1, and many more.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate user session management within the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager system, enabling unauthorized access to other tenants' information and configurations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Multiple versions of the Cisco SD-WAN vManage product are impacted by CVE-2023-20254, ranging from version 17.2.6 to version 20.10.1.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specifically crafted request to a vulnerable system, enabling them to gain unauthorized access to information or manipulate configurations.

Mitigation and Prevention

In addressing CVE-2023-20254, it is crucial for affected users to take immediate action to secure their systems and mitigate potential risks.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply security patches provided by Cisco promptly to address the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation. Additionally, restricting network access to the affected systems can help reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust user session management practices, regularly monitoring for unauthorized access, and ensuring secure configuration settings can enhance the long-term security posture of systems.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating and patching the Cisco SD-WAN vManage systems to the latest versions provided by the vendor is essential to address known vulnerabilities and bolster system security.