Summary of Versa Director SD-WAN Orchestration Platform Vulnerability
The Versa Director SD-WAN orchestration platform, utilizing the Cisco NCS application service, has been identified with a security vulnerability that poses a significant risk to network integrity and data security. This vulnerability is primarily associated with the communication between Active and Standby Directors, which exploit TCP ports 4566 and 4570 for exchanging High Availability (HA) information. A shared password is utilized for this process.
Vulnerability Overview
Nature of Vulnerability:
An attacker gaining access to the Versa Director could exploit the NCS service over port 4566. This allows for unauthorized administrative actions, which could lead to remote code execution. Consequently, this exposure could enable malicious actors to perform various harmful actions within the network, including unauthorized data access, network manipulation, or installation of malicious software.
Potential Impact:
The attack vector allows for a high degree of risk, particularly because of the classified CVSS score (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) which has been rated as AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Here’s a breakdown of the CVSS score components:
- Attack Vector (AV:N): Network
- Attack Complexity (AC:L): Low
- Privileges Required (PR:N): None
- User Interaction (UI:N): None
- Scope (S:U): Unchanged
- Confidentiality (C:H): High
- Integrity (I:H): High
- Availability (A:H): High
This indicates a network-based attack requiring minimal complexity without the need for user interaction, resulting in high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Recommendations for Mitigation
To mitigate the identified risks, organizations employing Versa Director should take immediate actions. Recommendations include:
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Implementing Network Hardening: Organizations should review and apply secure configuration practices as outlined in the Versa Networks documentation related to hardening port 4566. Measures may include restricting access to trusted IP addresses and utilizing robust firewall settings.
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Regular Updates and Patching: Keeping the software updated is critical. Administrators should regularly check for software patches and updates provided by Versa Networks. The documentation references various releases, including:
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Monitoring and Alerting: Enhanced monitoring for unusual activity on the affected ports and overall network activity may help to quickly identify and respond to potential breaches.
- Education and Training: Personnel should be trained on recognizing and responding to potential security threats associated with SD-WAN orchestration.
Additional Resources
For further guidance, links to relevant documentation and bulletins have been provided, such as:
Conclusion
In conclusion, organizations using the Versa Director SD-WAN orchestration platform must be aware of the capabilities and controls that can be implemented to mitigate security risks effectively. Following recommended practices will enhance system resilience and help safeguard networks against unauthorized access and potential attacks.