What is CVE-2023-20048?A critical-severity flaw in Firepower Management Center, explained.
CVE-2023-20048 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.9) in Firepower Management Center from Cisco, published on 1 November 2023. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 16%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.
Published 1 November 2023. Record last updated 25 January 2024. We keep this page's data up to date.
What is CVE-2023-20048? In plain terms.
It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
A vulnerability in the web services interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute certain unauthorized configuration commands on a Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) device that is managed by the FMC Software. This vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization of configuration commands that are sent through the web service interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the FMC web services interface and sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute certain configuration commands on the targeted FTD device. To successfully exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need valid credentials on the FMC Software.
What kind of flaw is it?
- CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
- CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
How an attack on it works
Read straight from its severity rating, translated out of the shorthand.
- Where an attacker can beAnywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull offEasy: no special conditions
- Login needed firstAn ordinary user account
- Does someone have to clickNo, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker getsCan read data, change data and take it offline
Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is CVE-2023-20048 being exploited? Not that we know of.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 16%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
Timeline
- Published
- Record last updated
- Exploit likelihood jumped
CVE-2023-20048 scores 56. Action: Plan remediation.
We keep the score of every published flaw up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, and evidence that criminals are actually using it counts most. In order:
- Evidence it is being exploitedBiggest factor
- How severe it isStrong factor
- How widely exposed it isSmaller factor
- Threat activity around itSmaller factor
85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score.
When CVE-2023-20048 matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.
See your own ranked list →Who is affected by CVE-2023-20048? One product.
The published record lists 1 product from 1 vendor. If you run one of these, check your version, then go to the fix below.
- Application
Firepower Management Center
by Cisco
Affected versions6.2.3 to 6.2.3.186.4.0 to 6.4.0.166.6.0 to 6.6.7.16.7.0 to 6.7.0.37.0.0 to 7.0.57.1.0 to 7.1.0.37.2.0 to 7.2.3.17.3.0 to 7.3.1.1
How do I fix CVE-2023-20048? Four steps.
- Check whether you run itCompare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
- Apply the vendor’s fixInstall the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
- If you can’t patch todayFollow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
- Keep an eye on itTrack the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.
References
1 linkDoes CVE-2023-20048 affect you? We'll keep checking.
Looking flaws up one at a time doesn't scale. Tell us what you run once, and we tell you which flaws matter to you, in what order, and keep watching for new ones.
- Tell us what you runPick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- We match it to every flawOver 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- Ranked by real-world riskA 0 to 100 score, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- Told as soon as we knowAn alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.
Free plan, no card needed. Nothing to install.
1 new flaw affects software Acme tracks
A vulnerability in the web services interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute ce...
- Matched to
- Firepower Management Center on Acme's software list
- What to do
- Plan in the vendor’s update
Sent to the alert recipients Acme chose. Also in the app and to Acme's webhook.
CVE-2023-20048 is a critical-severity flaw in Firepower Management Center from Cisco, published on 1 November 2023. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
It scores 9.9 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2023-20048 is 56 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 16%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
For Firepower Management Center from Cisco: 6.2.3 to 6.2.3.18, 6.4.0 to 6.4.0.16, 6.6.0 to 6.6.7.1, 6.7.0 to 6.7.0.3, 7.0.0 to 7.0.5, 7.1.0 to 7.1.0.3 and 2 more.
Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.