CVE-2023-20176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-20176, a vulnerability in Cisco access point software that can cause temporary service disruptions. Mitigation steps included.
This post delves into the details of CVE-2023-20176, a vulnerability found in the networking component of Cisco access point (AP) software that could potentially lead to a temporary service disruption.
Understanding CVE-2023-20176
CVE-2023-20176 is a vulnerability in Cisco's AP software that could enable an unauthenticated, remote attacker to trigger a temporary denial of service (DoS) by overwhelming the access point's resources.
What is CVE-2023-20176?
The vulnerability is primarily rooted in the excessive use of AP resources. Exploiting this flaw involves connecting to an affected device as a wireless client and saturating it with a high volume of traffic over an extended duration. A successful attack results in the termination and reset of the Datagram TLS (DTLS) session, consequently causing a DoS scenario.
The Impact of CVE-2023-20176
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as MEDIUM, with a CVSS base score of 5.8. While the confidentiality and integrity remain unaltered, the availability of the affected systems is impacted, albeit at a low level.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-20176
This section provides essential technical information related to CVE-2023-20176, focusing on the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability stems from the overuse of AP resources, allowing attackers to disrupt services temporarily through resource exhaustion attacks.
Affected Systems and Versions
The Cisco Aironet Access Point Software versions 8.10.170.0 and several versions of Cisco Aironet Access Point Software (IOS XE Controller) are impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Exploiting CVE-2023-20176 involves connecting to an affected device as a wireless client and flooding it with a high volume of traffic, leading to a DTLS session termination and reset.
Mitigation and Prevention
To safeguard against CVE-2023-20176, immediate steps should be taken, and long-term security practices should be established to mitigate potential risks and vulnerabilities. Regular patching and updates are crucial in maintaining a secure environment.
Immediate Steps to Take
Network administrators are advised to apply patches or recommended security updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability promptly.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring mechanisms can enhance overall network security and help prevent potential exploitation in the long term.
Patching and Updates
Regularly updating and patching the affected systems to the latest firmware versions provided by Cisco can help mitigate the risk of exploitation related to CVE-2023-20176.