CVE-2023-20046: cisco cisco asr 5000 series software Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-20046 is a high (CVSS 8.8) Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name vulnerability in cisco cisco asr 5000 series software. EPSS estimates a 0.86% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 57.8% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 09-05-2023
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 02-08-2024
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication feature of Cisco StarOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a valid low-privileged SSH key to an affected device from a host that has an IP address that is configured as the source for a high-privileged user account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected device through SSH as a high-privileged user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.

• CWE-289Authentication Bypass by Alternate NameThe product performs authentication based on the name of a resource being accessed, or the name of the actor performing the access, but it does not properly check all possible names for that resource or actor.
• CWE-522Insufficiently Protected CredentialsThe product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.