CVE-2023-20260 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record details a vulnerability found in the application CLI of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager that could potentially allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain escalated privileges.

Understanding CVE-2023-20260

The vulnerability identified in CVE-2023-20260 lies in the way command line arguments to application scripts are processed. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker could execute a command on the CLI with malicious options, leading to the potential escalation of privileges to the root user on the underlying operating system.

What is CVE-2023-20260?

CVE-2023-20260 represents a security vulnerability in Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager that could enable a local attacker with authentication credentials to elevate their privileges through improper handling of command line arguments in application scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20260

If successfully exploited, CVE-2023-20260 could allow an attacker to gain root-level access on the affected system, thereby compromising critical data, resources, and potentially leading to further unauthorized activities within the network.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20260

This section outlines specific technical details surrounding the vulnerability to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the mishandling of command line arguments in application scripts within Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager.

Affected Systems and Versions

Multiple versions of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager are confirmed to be impacted by CVE-2023-20260, as listed in the CVE record's data.

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting and executing a command with malicious options on the CLI, an authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability to gain escalated privileges on the targeted system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-20260 and minimize the associated risks, various mitigation strategies and preventive measures can be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Cisco recommends users to apply the necessary security updates provided by the vendor promptly.
Monitor network traffic and system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations for Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager.
Conduct thorough security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the affected systems are updated with the latest patches and security fixes released by Cisco to remediate CVE-2023-20260 and enhance overall system security.