Security Resilience

CVE-2023-20183

Access Control in Cisco Catalyst Center ≤ 2.3.3.7

Published
18 May 2023
Modified
23 July 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 5.4
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0049 41th percentile
Risk Priority 45 floored blend · peak EPSS

CVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.

Summary

CVE-2023-20183 is a medium-severity Improper Authorization (CWE-285) vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst Center. Its CVSS base score is 5.4 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Automated Collection (T1119); ranked at the 41th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Multiple vulnerabilities in the API of Cisco DNA Center Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to read information from a restricted container, enumerate user information, or execute arbitrary commands in a restricted container as the root user. For more…

more

information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1119 Automated Collection Collection
Once established within a system or network, an adversary may use automated techniques for collecting internal data.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1001 Data Obfuscation Command And Control
Adversaries may obfuscate command and control traffic to make it more difficult to detect.
T1001.001 Junk Data Command And Control
Adversaries may add junk data to protocols used for command and control to make detection more difficult.
T1001.003 Protocol or Service Impersonation Command And Control
Adversaries may impersonate legitimate protocols or web service traffic to disguise command and control activity and thwart analysis efforts.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-20184Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2024-20333Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20182Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20059Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2024-20350Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20346Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20210Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20353Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20349Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20223Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center

Affected Assets

cisco
catalyst center
≤ 2.3.3.7 · 2.3.4 — 2.3.5.3

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 5 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V8.4.2

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Authorization checks via training and content reviews ensure only approved information is released to public systems.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Documenting access to processing and storage locations helps ensure correct authorization for information resources.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Requiring explicit approval for maintenance activities and component removal enforces proper authorization for critical system operations.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Procedures enforce authorization rules for media handling, making unauthorized actions harder to perform without detection.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Limiting media access to authorized parties addresses improper authorization for resource access.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

The control requires authorization mechanisms and senior approval to prevent unauthorized viewing or alteration of the plan.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Mandates authorization checks so public access cannot perform disallowed operations or modifications.

addresses: CWE-285 CWE-552

Decoys identify and block exploitation of improper authorization by providing monitored targets that mimic protected functions.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.AA-05 partial match
blocks

Enforcing least-privilege permissions and authorization policies directly prevents unauthorized file/directory exposure.

PR.DS-01 partial match
blocks

Data-at-rest protections such as encryption or ACLs reduce the impact of unintended file exposure.

PR.IR-01 partial match
blocks

Logical segmentation and access protections stop external parties from reaching files that should remain internal.

PR.PS-01 partial match
blocks

Hardened configuration baselines commonly include file-system permission settings that limit external access.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

blocks

A.5.1 only requires the existence of an overarching policy and topic-specific policies (including on access control); it does not itself perform or enforce any authorization check, so the CWE-285 weakness can still be exploited.

removes
blocks

Mapping access rights to information classification and business requirements forces correct enforcement of authorization decisions, blocking the incorrect authorization weakness at the policy and implementation stage.

removes
removes

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (higher-evidence rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
  • V-248579 OL 8 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. blocks CWE-552
  • V-248597 There must be no "shosts.equiv" files on the OL 8 operating system. blocks CWE-552

References