CVE-2024-20458 is a high-severity vulnerability found in the web-based management interface of the Cisco ATA 190 Series Analog Telephone Adapter firmware. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to view or delete the configuration or change the firmware on affected devices. The lack of authentication on specific HTTP endpoints makes it possible for attackers to exploit this vulnerability by simply navigating to a specific URL.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.2, indicating a high level of severity. Organizations using the affected devices should take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, as attackers may leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to critical configurations.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to device configurations, which could lead to significant operational disruptions. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
As of now, there are no known exploits, and the vulnerability is not included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, organizations should remain vigilant and ensure that their systems are updated.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability in question arises from a lack of authentication on specific HTTP endpoints of the Cisco ATA 190 Series Analog Telephone Adapter firmware. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by accessing a specific URL, leading to the ability to view or delete device configurations or change the firmware. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.2, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is categorized as NETWORK, with low complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction necessary. The impact on integrity is rated as high, while confidentiality impact is none, and availability impact is low.
The vulnerability affects the following products: Cisco ATA 191 Firmware and Cisco ATA 192 Firmware, with all versions prior to the vendor patch being affected. The vulnerability was published on October 16, 2024.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability is the lack of authentication on critical HTTP endpoints, which allows unauthorized access. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely without physical access to the device.
The attack complexity is low, as no special skills or knowledge are required to exploit the vulnerability. No privileges are required for the attacker, and there is no need for user interaction, which simplifies the attack process.
The impacts on confidentiality are none, as the attacker does not gain access to sensitive information. However, the integrity impact is high, as the attacker could change device configurations or firmware, potentially leading to operational disruptions. The availability impact is low, as the attack does not directly affect the availability of the device.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using the Cisco ATA 190 Series devices face significant risks from this vulnerability. The ability for unauthorized access to device configurations can lead to unauthorized changes, which could disrupt operations and lead to security breaches.
The potential blast radius includes any organization using affected Cisco devices, which may have critical roles in their communication infrastructure. With the high severity rating, organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize remediation.
Given the CVSS score of 8.2 and the absence of known exploitation, organizations should still treat this vulnerability with urgency high, addressing it in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of Cisco ATA 191 and Cisco ATA 192 firmware prior to the respective vendor patches. Users should verify their firmware versions and upgrade where necessary to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should check for available patches from Cisco and apply them immediately. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing access controls to restrict access to the management interface. Additionally, regular monitoring of network traffic for unusual activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts.
For further guidance on security best practices, organizations may refer to the penetration testing services offered by AppSecure.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for access to the web-based management interface can provide indicators of attempted exploitation. Look for unusual HTTP requests targeting specific endpoints without proper authentication.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The presence of vulnerabilities such as CVE-2024-20458 underscores the importance of robust authentication mechanisms in web-based management interfaces. This incident serves as a reminder for organizations to regularly audit their security configurations and ensure that proper security measures are in place.
Security teams should leverage insights gained from this vulnerability to enhance their overall security posture. Organizations can benefit from reviewing their vulnerability management program and conducting regular security assessments.
For comprehensive security testing, organizations should consider engaging with professional services to conduct thorough assessments of their systems, as outlined in the penetration testing methodology blog.
Overall, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-20458 can help organizations avoid potential pitfalls in their security practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

.webp)