Cisco ThousandEyes Recorder Application: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
CVE-2023-20224 is a high-severity improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command vulnerability in Cisco ThousandEyes Recorder Application 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 ThousandEyes Recorder Application versions: 1.0.5; 1.0.4; 1.0.3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.41% 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 Thousandeyes Enterprise Agent to 0.230 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 ThousandEyes Recorder Application | 1.0.5; 1.0.4; 1.0.3 | Not stated |
| Cisco | Thousandeyes Enterprise Agent | before 0.230 | 0.230 |
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 |
Official description
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent, Virtual Appliance installation type, could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of user-supplied CLI arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected device and using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root. The attacker must have valid credentials on the affected device.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter your product: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, request headers as well as content, URL components, e-mail, files, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Perform input validation at well-defined interfaces.
- Directly convert your input type into the expected data type, such as using a conversion function that translates a string into a number. After converting to the expected data type, ensure that the input's values fall within the expected range of allowable values and that multi-field consistencies are maintained.
- When exchanging data between components, ensure that both components are using the same character encoding. Ensure that the proper encoding is applied at each interface. Explicitly set the encoding you are using whenever the protocol allows you to do so.
More Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities (CWE-88)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco ThousandEyes Recorder Application
- 8.0 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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