CVE-2024-4578
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated SSH users with the 'config' account on affected Arista Wireless Access Points to escalate privileges to root by spawning a bash shell. Any organization using vulnerable Arista APs is affected. Attackers need the config password to exploit this.
💻 Affected Systems
- Arista Wireless Access Points
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full compromise of the AP with root access, allowing network pivoting, configuration modification, traffic interception, and persistence.
Likely Case
Internal attackers or compromised accounts gaining full control of APs to disrupt wireless services or use as footholds.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if strong authentication controls, network segmentation, and monitoring prevent unauthorized access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires valid config user credentials via SSH. Once authenticated, privilege escalation appears straightforward.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check vendor advisory for specific fixed versions
Vendor Advisory: https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisory/19844-security-advisory-0098
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review Arista advisory 0098. 2. Identify affected AP models and versions. 3. Download and apply recommended firmware updates. 4. Reboot affected devices after patching.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict SSH Access
allLimit SSH access to trusted management networks and specific administrative IPs
Configure ACLs on AP management interface to restrict SSH
Change Config Password
allEnsure config user has strong, unique password not shared across devices
configure terminal
username config secret <strong-password>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate AP management interfaces
- Enable detailed logging and monitoring for SSH authentication and privilege escalation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AP firmware version against advisory. Test if config user can spawn bash shell via SSH.Check Version:
show version | include Software image versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, attempt to reproduce privilege escalation - should no longer work.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- SSH authentication as config user followed by bash shell spawning
- Privilege escalation attempts in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual SSH connections to AP management interfaces
- Traffic patterns suggesting AP compromise
SIEM Query:
source="ap-logs" (user="config" AND process="bash") OR (event="privilege escalation")