CVE-2022-45853 : Security Advisory and Response

A privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Zyxel GS1900-8 and GS1900-8HP firmware versions allows an authenticated local attacker to execute system commands as 'root' via SSH.

Understanding CVE-2022-45853

This section provides an overview and technical details of the CVE-2022-45853 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2022-45853?

The privilege escalation vulnerability in Zyxel GS1900-8 firmware version V2.70(AAHH.3) and GS1900-8HP firmware version V2.70(AAHI.3) enables an authenticated local attacker with administrator privileges to execute system commands as 'root' on a vulnerable device via SSH.

The Impact of CVE-2022-45853

With a CVSS base score of 6.7 (Medium Severity), the vulnerability poses a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Attackers with high privileges can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-45853

This section dives into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated local attacker with administrator privileges to run system commands as 'root' through SSH on Zyxel GS1900-8 and GS1900-8HP firmware versions V2.70(AAHH.3) and V2.70(AAHI.3).

Affected Systems and Versions

Zyxel GS1900-8 and GS1900-8HP firmware versions V2.70(AAHH.3) and V2.70(AAHI.3) are impacted by this privilege escalation vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need authenticated access and administrator privileges to exploit the vulnerability, enabling them to execute system commands as 'root' via SSH.

Mitigation and Prevention

In order to secure systems from CVE-2022-45853, immediate actions, and long-term security practices need to be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security patches provided by Zyxel for the affected firmware versions.
Review and restrict SSH access to only authorized users to minimize the attack surface.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor vendor security advisories for updates related to Zyxel products.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict unnecessary access rights.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Zyxel and ensure timely implementation of patches to address known vulnerabilities.