CVE-2023-5797 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-5797 was published on November 28, 2023, by Zyxel. It pertains to an improper privilege management vulnerability affecting various Zyxel firmware versions.

Understanding CVE-2023-5797

This vulnerability lies within the debug CLI command of different Zyxel firmware versions, potentially enabling an authenticated local attacker to access the administrator's logs on the affected devices.

What is CVE-2023-5797?

CVE-2023-5797 is an improper privilege management vulnerability found in Zyxel firmware versions, including ATP series, USG FLEX series, USG FLEX 50(W) series, USG20(W)-VPN series, VPN series, NWA50AX, WAC500, WAX300H, and WBE660S. The vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to administrator logs by a local attacker.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5797

With a base score of 5.5, this vulnerability has a medium severity level. The attack complexity is low, requiring low privileges, and the confidentiality impact is high. However, the integrity and availability impacts are assessed as none in this scenario.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5797

This vulnerability is classified under the CWE-269 category, specifically addressing improper privilege management.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the debug CLI command of the affected Zyxel firmware versions allows unauthorized access to the administrator's logs by authenticated local attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted Zyxel firmware versions include ATP series firmware versions 4.32 through 5.37, USG FLEX series firmware versions 4.50 through 5.37, USG FLEX 50(W) series firmware versions 4.16 through 5.37, USG20(W)-VPN series firmware versions 4.16 through 5.37, VPN series firmware versions 4.30 through 5.37, NWA50AX firmware version 6.29(ABYW.2), WAC500 firmware version 6.65(ABVS.1), WAX300H firmware version 6.60(ACHF.1), and WBE660S firmware version 6.65(ACGG.1).

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical administrator logs on the affected Zyxel devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-5797 and implement long-term security practices to prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should apply patches or updates provided by Zyxel to address the vulnerability promptly. Additionally, monitoring and restricting access to the affected systems can help prevent unauthorized exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance overall security posture, organizations should regularly update firmware, configure proper access controls, conduct security trainings, and perform routine security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Zyxel has released patches or updates to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to apply the relevant patches provided by Zyxel to secure their systems against potential exploitation.