CVE-2023-20267 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE, assigned by Cisco, was published on November 1, 2023, revealing a vulnerability in the IP geolocation rules of Snort 3. This flaw could potentially enable an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass IP address restrictions, posing a risk to affected systems running Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software.

Understanding CVE-2023-20267

The vulnerability identified in CVE-2023-20267 impacts the IP geolocation rules of Snort 3, creating a scenario where an attacker could bypass IP address restrictions by manipulating IP addresses to evade location-based controls.

What is CVE-2023-20267?

CVE-2023-20267 exposes a weakness in how Snort 3 handles IP geolocation rules, allowing attackers to bypass restrictions imposed based on IP addresses. By exploiting this vulnerability, threat actors could traverse network boundaries undetected.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20267

The successful exploitation of CVE-2023-20267 could permit unauthorized parties to circumvent location-based IP address restrictions, potentially gaining access to sensitive resources within the network. This could lead to unauthorized data access or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20267

The vulnerability stems from the improper parsing of IP geolocation rules in Snort 3, a network intrusion detection and prevention system. This enables attackers to spoof IP addresses and evade restrictions in place.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the IP geolocation rules processing of Snort 3 allows threat actors to trick the system into granting access by manipulating IP addresses, thereby bypassing location-based IP address restrictions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Various versions of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software, including 6.7.0 to 7.3.1.1, are impacted by CVE-2023-20267. Organizations utilizing these versions should take immediate action to address this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-20267 involves spoofing IP addresses to deceive the system into allowing unauthorized access, circumventing the location-based IP address restrictions effectively.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20267, immediate actions and long-term security measures are crucial for ensuring the protection of affected systems and data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implementing network monitoring tools, applying access controls, and monitoring IP address usage can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts exploiting this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments, timely software updates, and employee cybersecurity training are essential for maintaining a robust security posture and preventing future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Organizations using affected versions of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software should apply patches and updates provided by Cisco to address CVE-2023-20267 and enhance the security of their systems.