Cisco ConfD: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
CVE-2024-20389 is a high-severity incorrect privilege assignment vulnerability in Cisco ConfD 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 0.18% 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 confd to 8.0.12 or a later version.
- Update network_services_orchestrator to 6.0.12 or 6.2.2, whichever matches your release line, 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 ConfD | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco ConfD Basic | 8.0.11 | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco Network Services Orchestrator | 6.0.11 | Not stated |
| Cisco | confd | 8.0.11 up to, but not including, 8.0.12 | 8.0.12 |
| Cisco | network_services_orchestrator | 6.0.11 up to, but not including, 6.0.12; 6.2.1 up to, but not including, 6.2.2 | 6.0.12, 6.2.2 |
| Cisco | Crosswork Network Services Orchestrator | 6.2.1; 6.0.11 | Not stated |
| Cisco | Confd Basic | 8.0.11 | Not stated |
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 CNA (cisco.com).
Official description
A vulnerability in the ConfD CLI and the Cisco Crosswork Network Services Orchestrator CLI could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, local attacker to read and write arbitrary files as root on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to improper authorization enforcement when specific CLI commands are used. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing an affected CLI command with crafted arguments. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read or write arbitrary files on the underlying operating 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: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that 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.
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
More Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities (CWE-266)
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 ConfD
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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