CVE-2023-6792 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An OS command injection vulnerability in the XML API of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an authenticated API user to disrupt system processes and potentially execute arbitrary code with limited privileges on the firewall.

Understanding CVE-2023-6792

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in the XML API of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that could allow an authenticated API user to execute malicious commands on the firewall system.

What is CVE-2023-6792?

The CVE-2023-6792 relates to an OS command injection vulnerability in the XML API of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software. This vulnerability could be exploited by an authenticated API user to disrupt system processes and potentially execute arbitrary code with restricted privileges on the affected firewall.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6792

If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to significant confidentiality impacts as the attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. While the integrity impact is considered low, the ability to execute arbitrary code with limited privileges poses a potential risk to the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6792

This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSSv3.1 base score of 5.5, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. The attack complexity is considered low, requiring high privileges from the attacker. The vulnerability lies in the network attack vector with high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated API user to inject OS commands through the XML API, enabling them to disrupt system processes and potentially execute arbitrary code with limited privileges on the firewall.

Affected Systems and Versions

PAN-OS versions 8.1 through 10.1 are affected by this vulnerability if the XML API access is enabled. Versions 10.2, 11.0, and 11.1 are confirmed unaffected by this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires authenticated access to the PAN-OS XML API. However, Palo Alto Networks has no reported instances of malicious exploitation of this issue at the time of its publication.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-6792, immediate steps should be taken to secure the affected systems and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Customers with a Threat Prevention subscription can mitigate attacks by enabling Threat ID 91715. Additionally, following the Best Practices for Securing Administrative Access in the PAN-OS technical documentation is recommended to reduce the impact of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating PAN-OS to the latest versions, implementing security best practices, and monitoring for any unauthorized access are essential long-term security measures to prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

The issue has been addressed in PAN-OS versions 8.1.24, 9.0.17, 9.1.15, 10.0.12, 10.1.6, and all later versions. It is recommended to apply the necessary patches and updates to secure the systems against this vulnerability.