CVE-2023-6178 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-6178 involves an arbitrary file write vulnerability in Nessus Agent that could allow an authenticated attacker to alter Nessus Rules variables and overwrite arbitrary files on the remote host, potentially leading to a denial of service condition.

Understanding CVE-2023-6178

This section will discuss the details and impacts of CVE-2023-6178.

What is CVE-2023-6178?

CVE-2023-6178 is an arbitrary file write vulnerability in Nessus Agent, where an attacker with privileges on the managing application can manipulate Nessus Rules variables and overwrite files on the remote host.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6178

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as medium severity with a base score of 6.8. It can result in a denial of service condition due to the ability to overwrite arbitrary files on the remote host.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6178

In this section, we will delve into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to exploit Nessus Agent's handling of Rules variables to write arbitrary files on the remote host, potentially disrupting the host's services.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is "Nessus Agent" by Tenable, specifically versions less than 10.4.3.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with high privileges on the managing application can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate Nessus Rules variables, leading to file overwrites on the remote host.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-6178, immediate steps can be taken, followed by adopting long-term security practices and ensuring timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Tenable promptly.
Restrict access to vulnerable systems to trusted entities.
Monitor file write activities on the remote host for suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and maintain Nessus Agent to the latest secure version.
Conduct security training for users to recognize and report potential vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Tenable and apply patches and updates as soon as they are released to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-6178.