A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user. The attacker must be authenticated on the affected system as a low-privileged user to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability exists because a file leveraged by a root user is executed when a low-privileged user runs specific commands on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting arbitrary commands to a specific file as a lower-privileged user and then waiting until an admin user executes specific commands. The commands would then be executed on the device by the root user. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to escalate their privileges on the affected system from a low-privileged user to the root user.
With a CVSS score of 7.3, this high-severity vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing affected Cisco products. Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and control over critical systems, potentially leading to data breaches and service disruptions. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there are no public exploits confirmed for this vulnerability, and it is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the potential for exploitation remains, and the unique circumstances of its operation necessitate immediate attention.
Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations should also assess their overall security posture concerning privilege escalation vulnerabilities and implement appropriate security measures.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20739 arises specifically in the Command Line Interface (CLI) of Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software. The CVSS score of 7.3 indicates a high severity rating, reflecting its potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation from a low-privileged user to the root user, which could lead to unauthorized command execution on the affected system.
The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-269, indicating an improper privilege management issue. The affected products include both the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager version 20.7 and the Cisco SD-WAN vManage, with specific configurations at risk.
Published on April 15, 2022, and last modified on November 21, 2024, this vulnerability emphasizes the necessity for regular updates and monitoring of system configurations to mitigate potential risks.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the execution flow of specific commands by low-privileged users that can lead to the execution of arbitrary commands as a root user. As the attack vector is classified as LOCAL, the attacker must have access to the system with low privileges. The attack complexity is rated as LOW, indicating that the exploitation does not require advanced skills.
The attacker requires low privileges and must interact with the system, making user interaction necessary. The implications of this vulnerability are severe, with potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, all rated as HIGH. This means that successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the affected system.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2022-20739 is significant. Given that an attacker only requires local access and low privileges, the blast radius could extend to any system within an organization's network that utilizes the affected Cisco products. Organizations should assess their security measures regarding user privilege management and ensure that least privilege principles are followed.
The urgency for remediation is high due to the CVSS score of 7.3, indicating a substantial risk of exploitation. Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch cycle to safeguard against potential privilege escalation attacks.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following Cisco products are affected by this vulnerability: Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (version 20.7) and SD-WAN vManage (all versions prior to 20.6.1). Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should check for available patches and updates from Cisco to remediate this vulnerability. As a best practice, ensure that your systems are updated to the latest versions of the affected products.
In the absence of immediate patches, consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting user access and monitoring for unusual command executions. Organizations should validate remediation through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual user activity, particularly commands executed by low-privileged users. Behavioral anomalies that deviate from normal operational patterns should be flagged for further investigation.
Network signatures may also help identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability, and any system changes should be closely monitored to detect unauthorized privilege escalation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-20739 highlights the ongoing need for robust security measures in network management systems. As privilege escalation vulnerabilities remain a persistent threat, security teams must prioritize comprehensive security assessments and proactive remediation strategies.
This vulnerability represents a pattern of privilege escalation risks that can proliferate if not addressed promptly. Organizations should adopt a continuous security improvement mindset and leverage resources such as vulnerability management programs to systematically identify and mitigate risks.
Moreover, the incident reinforces the importance of conducting thorough penetration testing as part of an organization's security strategy and maintaining awareness of common security threats.
Finally, organizations should evaluate their existing security posture and consider implementing advanced security measures, such as API security assessments, to further enhance their defenses against evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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