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Cisco Security Advisory

Cisco NX-OS Software TACACS+ or RADIUS Remote Authentication Directed Request Denial of Service Vulnerability

High
Advisory ID:
cisco-sa-nxos-remoteauth-dos-XB6pv74m
First Published:
2023 August 23 16:00 GMT
Version 1.0:
Final
Workarounds:
No workarounds available
CVE-2023-20168
CWE-120
CVSS Score:
Base 7.1Click Icon to Copy Verbose Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X
CVE-2023-20168
CWE-120

Summary

  • A vulnerability in TACACS+ and RADIUS remote authentication for Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to cause an affected device to unexpectedly reload.

    This vulnerability is due to incorrect input validation when processing an authentication attempt if the directed request option is enabled for TACACS+ or RADIUS. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by entering a crafted string at the login prompt of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to unexpectedly reload, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

    Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

    This advisory is available at the following link:
    https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nxos-remoteauth-dos-XB6pv74m

    This advisory is part of the August 2023 Cisco FXOS and NX-OS Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: August 2023 Semiannual Cisco FXOS and NX-OS Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication.

Affected Products

  • Vulnerable Products

    This vulnerability affects the following Cisco products if they are running a vulnerable release of Cisco NX-OS Software with the directed request option enabled for TACACS+, RADIUS, or both:

    Note: This vulnerability can only be exploited over Telnet, which is disabled by default, or over the console management connection. This vulnerability cannot be exploited over SSH connections to the device.

    For information about which Cisco software releases are vulnerable, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory.

    Determine the Vulnerable Configuration

    To determine if the directed request option is configured for TACACS+ or RADIUS, use the show running-config | include directed-request command. If the command returns tacacs-server directed-request or radius-server directed-request, the device may be affected by this vulnerability. The following example shows the output of the show running-config | include directed-request command on a device that has the directed request option configured for TACACS+:

    nxos# show running-config | include directed-request
    tacacs-server directed-request

    For additional information on the directed request option, see the appropriate guide:

    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide: Configuring TACACS+
    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide: Configuring RADIUS

    Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

    Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

    Cisco has confirmed that this vulnerability does not affect the following Cisco products:

    • Firepower 1000 Series
    • Firepower 2100 Series
    • Firepower 4100 Series
    • Firepower 9300 Security Appliances
    • Nexus 9000 Series Fabric Switches in ACI mode
    • Secure Firewall 3100 Series
    • UCS 6200 Series Fabric Interconnects
    • UCS 6300 Series Fabric Interconnects
    • UCS 6400 Series Fabric Interconnects
    • UCS 6500 Series Fabric Interconnects

Details

  • If the affected device reloads, the Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) portion of the configuration may be deleted, which would prevent valid users from authenticating. The AAA configuration would need to be manually reconfigured.

Workarounds

  • There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

    If directed request support for TACACS+ or RADIUS is not required, the CLI commands tacacs-server directed-request and radius-server directed-request can be removed from the configuration. If the commands are not present in the configuration, the device is not vulnerable.

    For additional information on the directed request option, see the appropriate guide:

    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide: Configuring TACACS+
    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide: Configuring RADIUS

    While this mitigation has been deployed and was proven successful in a test environment, customers should determine the applicability and effectiveness in their own environment and under their own use conditions. Customers should be aware that any workaround or mitigation that is implemented may negatively impact the functionality or performance of their network based on intrinsic customer deployment scenarios and limitations. Customers should not deploy any workarounds or mitigations before first evaluating the applicability to their own environment and any impact to such environment.

Fixed Software

  • Cisco has released free software updates that address the vulnerability described in this advisory. Customers with service contracts that entitle them to regular software updates should obtain security fixes through their usual update channels.

    Customers may only install and expect support for software versions and feature sets for which they have purchased a license. By installing, downloading, accessing, or otherwise using such software upgrades, customers agree to follow the terms of the Cisco software license:
    https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/end-user-license-agreement.html

    Additionally, customers may only download software for which they have a valid license, procured from Cisco directly, or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner. In most cases this will be a maintenance upgrade to software that was previously purchased. Free security software updates do not entitle customers to a new software license, additional software feature sets, or major revision upgrades.

    The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information about licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool.

    When considering software upgrades, customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for Cisco products, which are available from the Cisco Security Advisories page, to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.

    In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers.

    Customers Without Service Contracts

    Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco TAC: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-worldwide-contacts.html

    Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.

    Cisco NX-OS Software

    To help customers determine their exposure to vulnerabilities in Cisco NX-OS Software, Cisco provides the Cisco Software Checker. This tool identifies any Cisco security advisories that impact a specific software release and the earliest release that fixes the vulnerabilities that are described in each advisory (“First Fixed”). If applicable, the tool also returns the earliest release that fixes all the vulnerabilities described in all the advisories that the Software Checker identifies (“Combined First Fixed”).

    To use the tool, go to the Cisco Software Checker page and follow the instructions. Alternatively, use the following form to search for vulnerabilities that affect a specific software release. To use the form, follow these steps:

    1. Choose which advisories the tool will search-only this advisory, only advisories with a Critical or High Security Impact Rating (SIR), or all advisories.
    2. Choose the appropriate software.
    3. Choose the appropriate platform.
    4. Enter a release number-for example, 7.0(3)I7(5) for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches or 14.0(1h) for Cisco NX-OS Software in ACI mode.
    5. Click Check.


    Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches SMUs

    Cisco has released the following SMUs to address this vulnerability. Customers can download the SMUs from the Software Center on Cisco.com.

    Cisco NX-OS Software Release Platform SMU Name
    9.3(11) Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches nxos.CSCwe72648-n9k_ALL-1.0.0-9.3.11.lib32_n9000.rpm
    10.2(5) Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches nxos64-cs.CSCwe72648-1.0.0-10.2.5.lib32_64_n9000.rpm
    nxos64-msll.CSCwe72648-1.0.0-10.2.5.lib32_64_n9000.rpm

    For details about downloading and installing SMUs in Cisco NX-OS Software for Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches, see the Performing Software Maintenance Upgrades section of the Cisco NX-OS system management configuration guides for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches.

    Additional Resources

    For help determining the best Cisco NX-OS Software release for a Cisco Nexus Switch, see the following Recommended Releases documents. If a security advisory recommends a later release, Cisco recommends following the advisory guidance.

    Cisco MDS Series Switches
    Cisco Nexus 1000V for VMware Switch
    Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches
    Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform Switches
    Cisco Nexus 5600 Platform Switches
    Cisco Nexus 6000 Series Switches
    Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches
    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches
    Cisco Nexus 9000 Series ACI-Mode Switches

    To determine the best release for Cisco UCS Software, see the Recommended Releases documents in the release notes for the device.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

  • The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Source

  • This vulnerability was found during the resolution of a Cisco TAC support case.

Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy

  • To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.

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Revision History

  • Version Description Section Status Date
    1.0 Initial public release. - Final 2023-AUG-23
    Show Less

Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy

  • To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.

Subscribe to Cisco Security Notifications

Related to This Advisory