CVE-2023-46224
📋 TL;DR
This critical vulnerability in the Mobile Device Server allows attackers to send specially crafted packets that cause memory corruption, potentially leading to remote code execution or denial of service. 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, allowing complete compromise of the Mobile Device Server and potentially lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Denial of Service causing the Mobile Device Server to crash, disrupting mobile device management operations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent attackers from reaching the vulnerable service.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires sending specially crafted packets but does not require authentication, making exploitation straightforward for attackers with network access.
🛠️ 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 version 6.4.2 from the vendor portal. 2. Backup current configuration and database. 3. Run the installer to upgrade to version 6.4.2. 4. Restart the Mobile Device Server service.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allRestrict network access to the Mobile Device Server to only trusted management networks
Firewall Rules
windowsBlock all unnecessary inbound traffic to the Mobile Device Server ports
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Block Avalanche Ports" dir=in action=block protocol=TCP localport=1777,1778,1779,1780,1781,1782,1783,1784,1785,1786,1787,1788,1789,1790,1791,1792,1793,1794,1795,1796,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802,1803,1804,1805,1806,1807,1808,1809,1810,1811,1812,1813,1814,1815,1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the Mobile Device Server on a dedicated VLAN with strict access controls
- Implement network-based intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor for exploitation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the Avalanche version in the web interface under Help > About or examine the installed program version in Windows Programs and FeaturesCheck Version:
wmic product where "name like 'Avalanche%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 6.4.2 or higher and test Mobile Device Server functionality remains operational📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected service crashes in Windows Event Logs (Event ID 1000)
- High volume of malformed packets to Mobile Device Server ports in firewall logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to Mobile Device Server ports (1777-2000)
- Large or malformed packets sent to the Mobile Device Server
SIEM Query:
source="windows" AND (event_id=1000 AND process_name="AvalancheMobileDeviceServer.exe") OR (destination_port>=1777 AND destination_port<=2000 AND packet_size>1500)