CVE-2023-40459 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Understanding CVE-2023-40459

This CVE-2023-40459 vulnerability affects the ACEManager component of ALEOS 4.16 and earlier versions. It arises from improper input sanitization during authentication, potentially leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition.

What is CVE-2023-40459?

The ACEManager component of ALEOS 4.16 and earlier fails to perform adequate input sanitization during authentication. This vulnerability could trigger a DoS condition in ACEManager without affecting other router functions. ACEManager is designed to recover from this DoS by automatically restarting within ten seconds of becoming unavailable.

The Impact of CVE-2023-40459

The impact of CVE-2023-40459 is rated as HIGH severity. The vulnerability presents a possibility of input data manipulation (CAPEC-153), potentially leading to a DoS condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-40459

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability (CWE-476) is classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference issue. It stems from the lack of input sanitization during authentication, leading to the potential DoS situation without affecting other essential router functionalities.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems include ALEOS 4.16 and earlier. Specifically, versions 4.10 and 4.9.8 are impacted, as they do not adequately perform input sanitization during user authentication.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through network vectors. With a low attack complexity, threat actors can manipulate input data, potentially resulting in a high availability impact.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the CVE-2023-40459 vulnerability, it is crucial to update the affected ALEOS systems to the patched versions. Ensure that input sanitization procedures during authentication are robust to prevent unauthorized entities from triggering a DoS condition.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should prioritize regular security assessments, including input validation checks during system authentication. Training personnel on secure coding practices can also help prevent such vulnerabilities from occurring.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the security bulletin provided by Sierra Wireless for detailed instructions on patching the vulnerability and updating ALEOS systems to ensure protection against potential DoS attacks.