CVE-2023-20198

  1. OpenCVE
  2. Vulnerabilities (CVE)
  3. CVE-2023-20198
Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. We are updating the list of fixed releases and adding the Software Checker. Our investigation has determined that the actors exploited two previously unknown issues. The attacker first exploited CVE-2023-20198 to gain initial access and issued a privilege 15 command to create a local user and password combination. This allowed the user to log in with normal user access. The attacker then exploited another component of the web UI feature, leveraging the new local user to elevate privilege to root and write the implant to the file system. Cisco has assigned CVE-2023-20273 to this issue. CVE-2023-20198 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 10.0. CVE-2023-20273 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 7.2. Both of these CVEs are being tracked by CSCwh87343.

10.0 /10

CVSS v3 : CRITICAL

V3 Legend

Vector :

Exploitability : 3.9 / Impact : 6.0

Attack Vector NETWORK

Attack Complexity LOW

Privileges Required NONE

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact HIGH

Availability Impact HIGH

Scope CHANGED

References
Link Resource
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z Mitigation Vendor Advisory
Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

OR cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
History

25 Jan 2024, 17:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
CWE CWE-420
References
  • {'url': 'http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175674/Cisco-IOX-XE-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html', 'tags': ['Exploit', 'Third Party Advisory', 'VDB Entry'], 'source': 'ykramarz@cisco.com'}

15 Nov 2023, 19:29

Type Values Removed Values Added
References () http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175674/Cisco-IOX-XE-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html - () http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175674/Cisco-IOX-XE-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html - Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry

14 Nov 2023, 03:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
  • () http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175674/Cisco-IOX-XE-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html -

07 Nov 2023, 19:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
Summary Cisco is aware of active exploitation of a previously unknown vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software when exposed to the internet or to untrusted networks. This vulnerability allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to create an account on an affected system with privilege level 15 access. The attacker can then use that account to gain control of the affected system. For steps to close the attack vector for this vulnerability, see the Recommendations section of this advisory  Cisco will provide updates on the status of this investigation and when a software patch is available. Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. We are updating the list of fixed releases and adding the Software Checker. Our investigation has determined that the actors exploited two previously unknown issues. The attacker first exploited CVE-2023-20198 to gain initial access and issued a privilege 15 command to create a local user and password combination. This allowed the user to log in with normal user access. The attacker then exploited another component of the web UI feature, leveraging the new local user to elevate privilege to root and write the implant to the file system. Cisco has assigned CVE-2023-20273 to this issue. CVE-2023-20198 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 10.0. CVE-2023-20273 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 7.2. Both of these CVEs are being tracked by CSCwh87343.
References
  • {'url': 'https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/critical-unpatched-cisco-zero-day-bug-active-exploit', 'name': 'https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/critical-unpatched-cisco-zero-day-bug-active-exploit', 'tags': ['Third Party Advisory'], 'refsource': 'MISC'}
  • {'url': 'https://www.cisa.gov/guidance-addressing-cisco-ios-xe-web-ui-vulnerabilities', 'name': 'https://www.cisa.gov/guidance-addressing-cisco-ios-xe-web-ui-vulnerabilities', 'tags': [], 'refsource': 'MISC'}
  • {'url': 'https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/10/actively-exploited-cisco-0-day-with-maximum-10-severity-gives-full-network-control/', 'name': 'https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/10/actively-exploited-cisco-0-day-with-maximum-10-severity-gives-full-network-control/', 'tags': ['Press/Media Coverage', 'Third Party Advisory'], 'refsource': 'MISC'}

25 Oct 2023, 18:17

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
  • (MISC) https://www.cisa.gov/guidance-addressing-cisco-ios-xe-web-ui-vulnerabilities -

24 Oct 2023, 14:24

Type Values Removed Values Added
CWE NVD-CWE-noinfo
References (MISC) https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/critical-unpatched-cisco-zero-day-bug-active-exploit - (MISC) https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/critical-unpatched-cisco-zero-day-bug-active-exploit - Third Party Advisory
References (MISC) https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/10/actively-exploited-cisco-0-day-with-maximum-10-severity-gives-full-network-control/ - (MISC) https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/10/actively-exploited-cisco-0-day-with-maximum-10-severity-gives-full-network-control/ - Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
References (MISC) https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z - (MISC) https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z - Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
CPE cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
First Time Cisco ios Xe
Cisco
CVSS v2 : unknown
v3 : unknown 		v2 : unknown
v3 : 10.0

16 Oct 2023, 22:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
  • (MISC) https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/critical-unpatched-cisco-zero-day-bug-active-exploit -

16 Oct 2023, 21:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
  • (MISC) https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/10/actively-exploited-cisco-0-day-with-maximum-10-severity-gives-full-network-control/ -

16 Oct 2023, 16:15

Type Values Removed Values Added
New CVE
Information

Published : 2023-10-16 16:15

Updated : 2024-01-25 17:15

NVD link : CVE-2023-20198

Mitre link : CVE-2023-20198

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2023-20198

JSON object : View

Products Affected

cisco

  • ios_xe
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo CWE-420

Unprotected Alternate Channel