CVE-2023-20076

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-20076?

CVE-2023-20076 has a CVSS score of 7.2 (HIGH). This vulnerability in Cisco IOx allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root on the host operating system by deploying a malicious application with a crafted activation payload. It affects Cisco devices running IOx application hosting environment. Attackers need valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability.

7.2 HIGH

Remote Code Execution

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Cisco IOx allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root on the host operating system by deploying a malicious application with a crafted activation payload. It affects Cisco devices running IOx application hosting environment. Attackers need valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Cisco devices with IOx application hosting environment

Versions: Multiple Cisco IOS XE releases and specific hardware platforms as detailed in Cisco advisory

Operating Systems: Cisco IOS XE

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires IOx application hosting feature to be enabled and attacker needs valid authentication credentials

📦 What is this software?

Ios Xe by Cisco

Cisco IOS XE is Cisco's modern network operating system running on enterprise routers, switches, and wireless controllers deployed across corporate networks, data centers, branch offices, and service provider infrastructure worldwide. As the evolution of Cisco IOS, IOS XE provides a Linux-based modu...

Learn more about Ios Xe →

Ios Xe by Cisco

Learn more about Ios Xe →

Ios Xe by Cisco

Learn more about Ios Xe →

Iox by Cisco

View all CVEs affecting Iox →

Ir510 Wpan Firmware by Cisco

View all CVEs affecting Ir510 Wpan Firmware →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete compromise of the underlying host operating system with root privileges, allowing installation of persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and lateral movement to other network segments.

🟠

Likely Case

Attackers with valid credentials gain full control over affected Cisco devices, potentially disrupting network operations and accessing sensitive network configurations.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper access controls and network segmentation, impact is limited to the specific compromised device, though root access still provides significant control.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated access to deploy malicious applications

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Refer to Cisco advisory for specific fixed releases per platform

Vendor Advisory: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iox-8whGn5dL

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Review Cisco advisory for affected platforms and versions. 2. Upgrade to fixed software releases specified in advisory. 3. Apply patches during maintenance windows as they require device restart.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable IOx application hosting

all

If IOx application hosting is not required, disable it to prevent exploitation

no app-hosting appid <app-name>
no app-hosting

Restrict IOx access

all

Implement strict access controls and network segmentation for IOx management interfaces

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for IOx management interfaces
Segment IOx management network and monitor for suspicious application deployment activities

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Cisco device configuration for IOx application hosting feature and compare software version against affected releases in Cisco advisory

Check Version:

show version | include Version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify software version is updated to fixed release specified in Cisco advisory and confirm IOx is either disabled or running patched version

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected application deployments in IOx
Suspicious activation payload files
Root privilege escalation attempts

Network Indicators:

Unusual outbound connections from IOx host
Suspicious file transfers to IOx management interface

SIEM Query:

source="cisco-ios" AND (event_type="app_deployment" OR event_type="iox_activation") AND status="success"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-20076

CVSS v3 Score: 7.2 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-233

Published: February 12, 2023

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

807 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

809 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

829 Industrial Integrated Services Router Firmware by Cisco

Cgr1000 Firmware by Cisco

Cgr1240 Firmware by Cisco

Ic3000 Industrial Compute Gateway by Cisco

Ios Xe by Cisco

Ios Xe by Cisco

Ios Xe by Cisco

Iox by Cisco

Ir510 Wpan Firmware by Cisco

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable IOx application hosting

Restrict IOx access

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities