CVE-2023-20175
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Cisco ISE allows authenticated users with at least Read-only privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system, potentially gaining root access. It affects Cisco ISE devices where insufficient input validation in a CLI command enables command injection. Attackers must have local access and valid credentials to exploit this.
💻 Affected Systems
- Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker gains full root control over the Cisco ISE device, allowing them to compromise the entire network security posture, steal sensitive data, or deploy persistent malware.
Likely Case
An insider or compromised account with Read-only privileges escalates to root, leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, exploitation is limited to authorized users, but the risk remains if credentials are compromised or misused.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access, making it more likely in environments with weak credential management or insider threats.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Cisco Security Advisory for specific patched versions.
Vendor Advisory: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-injection-QeXegrCw
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review the Cisco advisory for affected versions. 2. Download and apply the recommended patch from Cisco. 3. Restart the Cisco ISE device to complete the update. 4. Verify the patch installation using version checks.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict CLI Access
allLimit CLI access to only trusted administrators and remove Read-only privileges for unnecessary users to reduce attack surface.
Configure access control policies in Cisco ISE to restrict user privileges.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to minimize the number of users with Read-only or higher privileges.
- Monitor and audit CLI command usage for suspicious activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the Cisco ISE version against the affected versions listed in the Cisco Security Advisory.Check Version:
show versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, confirm the device is running a version not listed as vulnerable in the advisory.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual CLI command executions, especially those with injection patterns or privilege escalation attempts.
Network Indicators:
- Anomalous network traffic from the Cisco ISE device indicating compromised integrity.
SIEM Query:
Example: search for 'CVE-2023-20175' or 'command injection' in Cisco ISE logs within your SIEM.