CVE-2023-20101: A Critical Security Vulnerability in Cisco Emergency Responder
Cisco Emergency Responder is a software application that helps organizations to respond to and manage emergency events. It provides various features, such as incident management, resource coordination, and real-time communication.
Unfortunately, the Cisco Emergency Responder contains a critical security vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain root access to an affected device. Designated as CVE-2023-20101 and with a CVSS score ranking at an alarming 9.8, this vulnerability is no minor hiccup. This vulnerability is due to static user credentials for the root account that cannot be changed or deleted.
Image Credit: Cisco
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the root account to log in to an affected system. A successful exploit would allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user, giving them complete control over the system.
This vulnerability is critical because it allows an attacker to gain root access to an affected system. This means that an attacker could steal data, launch attacks against other systems, or even disrupt operations.
Additionally, this vulnerability is easy to exploit. An attacker does not need to have any special skills or knowledge to exploit this vulnerability.
The CVE-2023-20101 vulnerability affects only Cisco Emergency Responder Release 12.5(1)SU4. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
| Cisco Emergency Responder Release | First Vulnerable Release | First Fixed Release |
|---|---|---|
| 11.5(1) and earlier | Not vulnerable | Not vulnerable |
| 12.5(1) | 12.5(1)SU41 | 12.5(1)SU5 ciscocm.CSCwh34565_PRIVILEGED_ACCESS_DISABLE.k4.cop.sha512 |
| 14 | Not vulnerable | Not vulnerable |
If you are using Cisco Emergency Responder Release 12.5(1)SU4, you should update to the latest version as soon as possible. You can download the newest version from the Cisco website.
It’s also worth noting that, as of this article’s release, the Cisco PSIRT has not identified any public announcements or evidence indicating malicious exploitation related to this advisory.
