CVE-2023-46220
📋 TL;DR
This critical vulnerability in the Mobile Device Server allows attackers to send specially crafted packets that cause memory corruption, potentially leading to denial of service or remote code execution. Organizations using affected versions of Ivanti Avalanche are at risk, particularly those with internet-facing Mobile Device Servers.
💻 Affected Systems
- Ivanti Avalanche
📦 What is this software?
Avalanche by Ivanti
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with SYSTEM/root privileges leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Denial of service causing Mobile Device Server crashes and disruption to mobile device management operations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and access controls preventing exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) suggests relatively straightforward exploitation. No authentication required.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.4.2
Vendor Advisory: https://download.wavelink.com/Files/avalanche_v6.4.2_release_notes.txt
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Ivanti Avalanche 6.4.2 from official sources. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Run installer with administrative privileges. 4. Restart the Mobile Device Server service.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allRestrict access to Mobile Device Server ports (typically 1777, 1778) to trusted management networks only.
Use firewall rules to block inbound traffic to Mobile Device Server ports from untrusted networks
Access Control Lists
windowsImplement IP-based access controls on the Mobile Device Server to limit connection sources.
Configure Windows Firewall to allow only specific source IPs to Mobile Device Server ports
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to isolate Mobile Device Server from untrusted networks
- Deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor for exploitation attempts on Mobile Device Server ports
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Avalanche version in Control Center > Help > About. If version is below 6.4.2, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Check Avalanche Control Center interface or examine installed programs in Windows Control PanelVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify version shows 6.4.2 or higher in Control Center > Help > About.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple connection attempts to Mobile Device Server ports (1777/1778) from single sources
- Avalanche service crashes or unexpected restarts
- Memory-related errors in Windows Event Logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to Mobile Device Server ports
- Malformed packets targeting port 1777 or 1778
SIEM Query:
source_port:1777 OR source_port:1778 AND (bytes_sent > threshold OR packet_size > normal) OR service:Avalanche AND event_type:crash