Cisco IOS XE Software Bootstrap Arbitrary File Write Vulnerability

🚨 SEVERITY: MEDIUM — CVSS 6.0 Security Advisory

TL;DR 📌

A medium severity vulnerability has been identified in the Cisco IOS XE Software Bootstrap that allows an authenticated local attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system. Cisco has released software updates to address this issue, but no workarounds are available.

What happened 🕵️‍♂️

A vulnerability in the bootstrap loading of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system. This issue arises from insufficient input validation of the bootstrap file used when a device is deployed in SD-WAN mode or configured for SD-Routing. An attacker could exploit this by modifying a bootstrap file generated by Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager and loading it into the device flash, leading to potential arbitrary file writes to the operating system.

Affected products 🖥️

The vulnerability affects Cisco devices running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS XE Software that supports either Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN or SD-Routing functionality. Specific vulnerable releases can be found in the Fixed Software section of the advisory.

Fixed software 🔧

Upgrade to at least the first fixed release in your train (or later):

Product / Release Train First Fixed Release Notes
ISE / ISE-PIC 1.0 Initial public release.

Workarounds 🧯

There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Risk in context 🎯

With a CVSS score of 6.0, this vulnerability is classified as medium severity. While it requires local authentication for exploitation, the potential for arbitrary file writes to the operating system poses a significant risk to the integrity and security of affected systems.

Fast facts ⚡

  • Vulnerability Title: Cisco IOS XE Software Bootstrap Arbitrary File Write Vulnerability
  • CVSS Score: 6.0 (Medium)
  • Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
  • Exploitation Awareness: No public announcements or malicious use reported.

For leadership 🧭

It is crucial for organizations using Cisco IOS XE Software to assess their systems for this vulnerability and apply the necessary updates. The potential for an attacker to manipulate system files can lead to severe operational disruptions and security breaches. Regularly consulting Cisco’s advisories and ensuring timely updates is essential for maintaining a secure network environment.