CVE-2023-20038:Cisco Industrial Network Director Static Secret Key Vulnerability

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A vulnerability exists in the monitoring application of Cisco Industrial Network Director where an authenticated, local attacker could access a static secret key. This key is used for encrypting both local data and credentials for accessing remote systems. By exploiting this vulnerability (CVE-2023-20038), an attacker with local access to the server could decrypt sensitive data and potentially gain unauthorized access to remote systems being monitored by the application.

Overview

This vulnerability (CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials) affects the Cisco Industrial Network Director monitoring application. The vulnerability stems from a static key value hardcoded in the application that is used to encrypt application data and remote credentials. When an attacker gains local access to the server where Cisco Industrial Network Director is installed, they can obtain this static key. With this key, the attacker can decrypt sensitive data, including credentials that would allow them to access remote systems being monitored by the Cisco Industrial Network Director. This represents a significant security risk as it could lead to unauthorized access to multiple systems in an industrial network environment.

Remediation

Organizations using Cisco Industrial Network Director should:

  1. Update to the latest version of the software as recommended by Cisco in their security advisory
  2. Implement strong access controls to restrict local access to servers running Cisco Industrial Network Director
  3. Monitor for unauthorized access attempts to the server
  4. Consider network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems
  5. Follow Cisco's specific mitigation guidance provided in the security advisory (cisco-sa-ind-fZyVjJtG)
  6. Audit remote system access to detect any unauthorized access that may have occurred

References

  1. Cisco Security Advisory: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ind-fZyVjJtG
  2. CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/798.html
  3. MITRE CVE-2023-20038: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20038

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  2. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  3. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  4. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  5. Construction
    Construction
  6. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  7. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  8. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  9. Information
    Information
  10. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  11. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  12. Mining
    Mining
  13. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  14. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  15. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  16. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  17. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  18. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  19. Utilities
    Utilities
  20. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade

Focus on What Matters

  1. See Everything.
  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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