Cisco SD-WAN Solution: Improper Access Control
CVE-2022-20716 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in Cisco SD-WAN Solution from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.22% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Sd-wan to 20.6.1 or 20.7.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on tools.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco SD-WAN Solution | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Catalyst Sd-wan Manager | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Solution | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Vbond Orchestrator | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Vedge Cloud | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Vedge Router | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Vsmart Controller Software | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Sd-wan | 18.4 up to, but not including, 20.6.1; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.1 | 20.6.1, 20.7.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain escalated privileges. This vulnerability is due to improper access control on files within the affected system. A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability by modifying certain files on the vulnerable device. If successful, the attacker could gain escalated privileges and take actions on the system with the privileges of the root user.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco SD-WAN Solution
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
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