Cisco IOS XE Software Web UI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
History:
- 17/10/2023 --- v1.0 -- Initial publication
- 23/10/2023 --- v.1.1 -- Added information about a new vulnerability and available updates
Summary
On October 16 2023, Cisco published an advisory regarding a critical vulnerability, CVE-2023-20198, affecting the Web UI of Cisco IOS XE Software. This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to create a privileged level 15 account, granting them control over the affected system.
[UPDATE] On October 20 2023, Cisco identified an additional vulnerability CVE-2023-20273, which, when exploited, affects another component of the web UI feature. This vulnerability allows the new local user to elevate its privilege to root and write an implant to the file system. [1]
- CVE-2023-20198 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 10.0.
- CVE-2023-20273 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 7.2.
Cisco has released software updates that address the vulnerabilities described in this advisory [1]. It is also advised to implement the recommendations.
Technical Details
The vulnerability CVE-2023-20198 allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to exploit the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software, enabling them to create an account with privilege level 15 access.
The vulnerability CVE-2023-20273 allows the new local user to elevate its privilege to root and write an implant to the file system.
Affected Products
This vulnerability affects Cisco IOS XE Software if the web UI feature is enabled. The web UI feature is enabled through the ip http server or ip http secure-server commands [1].
To check if the web UI feature is enabled, look for ip http server and ip http secure-server in the system configuration.
Detection
To determine whether a system may have been compromised, perform the following checks [1]:
Check the system logs for the presence of any of the following log messages where user could be cisco_tac_admin, cisco_support or any configured, local user that is unknown to the network administrator:
%SYS-5-CONFIG_P: Configured programmatically by process SEP_webui_wsma_http from console as user on line
%SEC_LOGIN-5-WEBLOGIN_SUCCESS: Login Success [user: user] [Source: source_IP_address] at 03:42:13 UTC Wed Oct 11 2023
Note: The %SYS-5-CONFIG_P message will be present for each instance that a user has accessed the web UI. The indicator to look for is new or unknown usernames present in the message.
Check the system logs for the following message where filename is an unknown filename that does not correlate with an expected file installation action:
%WEBUI-6-INSTALL_OPERATION_INFO: User: username, Install Operation: ADD filename
Cisco Talos has provided the following command to check for the presence of the implant where systemip is the IP address of the system to check. This command should be issued from a workstation with access to the targeted system (if the system is configured for HTTP access only, use the HTTP scheme in the command below):
curl -k -X POST "https://systemip/webui/logoutconfirm.html?logon_hash=1"
If the request returns a hexadecimal string, the implant is present.
Workarounds
There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.
Recommendations
CERT-EU recommends disabling the HTTP Server feature on all internet-facing systems and scanning affected devices for the presence of indicators of compromise (IoCs). [1]
[UPDATE] CERT-EU strongly recommends updating affected devices. The first fixed software releases have been posted on the Cisco Software Download Center, and additional releases will be made available. [2]