Cisco BroadWorks: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
CVE-2023-20216 is a high-severity incorrect permission assignment for critical resource vulnerability in Cisco BroadWorks 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. Affected Cisco BroadWorks versions: 23.0; 23.0 ap380391; 23.0 ap380396, 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 0.16% 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 Broadworks Application Delivery Platform to ri.2023.05 or a later version.
- Update Broadworks Application Server to 23.0.2023.05 or 2023.05 or 24.0.2023.05, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Broadworks Database Server to 2023.05 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco BroadWorks | 23.0; 23.0 ap380391; 23.0 ap380396; 23.0 ap379795; 23.0 ap373098; 23.0 ap382358; 23.0 ap382281; 23.0 ap367434; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Broadworks Application Delivery Platform | before ri.2023.05 | ri.2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Application Server | before 23.0.2023.05; before 2023.05; 24.0 up to, but not including, 24.0.2023.05 | 23.0.2023.05, 2023.05, 24.0.2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Database Server | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Execution Server | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Media Server | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Network Database Server | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Network Function Manager | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Network Server | before 23.0.2023.05; before 2023.05 | 23.0.2023.05, 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Profile Server | before 23.0.2023.05; before 2023.05 | 23.0.2023.05, 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Service Control Function Server | before 2023.05 | 2023.05 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Troubleshooting Server | before 2023.06 | 2023.06 |
| Cisco | Broadworks Xtended Services Platform | before 23.0.2023.05; before 2023.05 | 23.0.2023.05, 2023.05 |
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 | 4.4 | Medium | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the privilege management functionality of all Cisco BroadWorks server types could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to root on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to incorrect implementation of user role permissions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the application as a user with the BWORKS or BWSUPERADMIN role and issuing crafted commands on an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands beyond the sphere of their intended access level, including initiating installs or running operating system commands with elevated permissions. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- When using a critical resource such as a configuration file, check to see if the resource has insecure permissions (such as being modifiable by any regular user), and generate an error or even exit the software if there is a possibility that the resource could have been modified by an unauthorized party.
- Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully defining distinct user groups, privileges, and/or roles. Map these against data, functionality, and the related resources. Then set the permissions accordingly. This will allow you to maintain more fine-grained control over your resources.
- During program startup, explicitly set the default permissions or umask to the most restrictive setting possible. Also set the appropriate permissions during program installation. This will prevent you from inheriting insecure permissions from any user who installs or runs the program.
More Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-732)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco BroadWorks
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
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