Cisco SD-WAN vManage: Improper Authentication
CVE-2023-20214 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Cisco SD-WAN vManage from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco SD-WAN vManage versions: 20.6.4; 20.6.5; 20.6.5.1, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.92% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 61% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Catalyst Sd-wan Manager to 20.6.4.2 or 20.6.5.5 or 20.9.3.2 or 20.11.1.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Sd-wan Vmanage to 20.10.1.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco SD-WAN vManage | 20.6.4; 20.6.5; 20.6.5.1; 20.6.4.1; 20.6.5.2; 20.6.5.4; 20.6.3.3; 20.6.4.0.21; and 28 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Catalyst Sd-wan Manager | 20.6.4 up to, but not including, 20.6.4.2; 20.6.5 up to, but not including, 20.6.5.5; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.9.3.2; 20.11 up to, but not including, 20.11.1.2; 20.6.3.3 | 20.6.4.2, 20.6.5.5, 20.9.3.2, 20.11.1.2 |
| Cisco | Sd-wan Vmanage | 20.10 up to, but not including, 20.10.1.2 | 20.10.1.2 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the request authentication validation for the REST API of Cisco SD-WAN vManage software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain read permissions or limited write permissions to the configuration of an affected Cisco SD-WAN vManage instance. This vulnerability is due to insufficient request validation when using the REST API feature. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted API request to an affected vManage instance. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to retrieve information from and send information to the configuration of the affected Cisco vManage instance. This vulnerability only affects the REST API and does not affect the web-based management interface or the CLI.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco SD-WAN vManage
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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