Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-36853

Keysight Geolocation Server ≤ 2.4.2

Published
19 July 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0021 11th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-36853 is a high-severity Exposed Dangerous Method or Function (CWE-749) vulnerability in Keysight Geolocation Server. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Path Interception (T1034); ranked at the 11th 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

​In Keysight Geolocation Server v2.4.2 and prior, a low privileged attacker could create a local ZIP file containing a malicious script in any location. The attacker could abuse this to load a DLL with SYSTEM privileges.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1034 Path Interception Persistence
**This technique has been deprecated.
T1574.007 Path Interception by PATH Environment Variable Stealth
Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by hijacking environment variables used to load libraries.
T1574.008 Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking Stealth
Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by hijacking the search order used to load other programs.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1574 Hijack Execution Flow Stealth
Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by hijacking the way operating systems run programs.
T1574.001 DLL Stealth
Adversaries may abuse dynamic-link library files (DLLs) in order to achieve persistence, escalate privileges, and evade defenses.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-34394Same product: Keysight Geolocation Server
CVE-2022-38130Same vendor: Keysight
CVE-2023-1967Same vendor: Keysight
CVE-2023-1399Same vendor: Keysight
CVE-2023-1860Same vendor: Keysight
CVE-2025-34421Shared CWE-427
CVE-2025-33208Shared CWE-427
CVE-2023-37849Shared CWE-427
CVE-2025-57716Shared CWE-427
CVE-2026-53813Shared CWE-427

Affected Assets

keysight
geolocation server
≤ 2.4.2

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 6 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V8.2.1

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-749

Explicitly prohibiting dangerous or unnecessary functions and services prevents exposure of methods that could be directly exploited.

addresses: CWE-749

Minimal functionality removes or avoids exposure of dangerous methods and 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 full match
prevents

Enforcing least-privilege authorization directly prevents unrestricted dangerous API methods.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices stop developers from exposing dangerous functions in the first place.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes will surface exposed dangerous methods during assessment.

PR.IR-01 partial match
prevents

Logical access controls at the network/environment layer can limit reachability of exposed functions.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce safe search-path settings and reduce exposure.

PR.PS-05 partial match
prevents

Execution allow-listing can block malicious binaries placed in hijackable search locations.

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.

finds

Security testing can detect exposed dangerous functions, but does not prevent their initial introduction.

degrades

Restricting privileged utility programs reduces exposure of dangerous functions, but does not eliminate the underlying weakness.

mitigates

Restricting software installation reduces the chance that an attacker-controlled path element is introduced into the search path.

prevents

Privileged access rights limit who can invoke dangerous methods, but do not address whether the method itself should exist.

prevents

Secure development life cycle requires removal or protection of dangerous APIs during design and coding.

prevents

Application security requirements can mandate that dangerous methods are not exposed in interfaces.

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` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
  • V-248577 OL 8 must enable kernel parameters to enforce Discretionary Access Control (DAC) on symlinks. prevents CWE-427
Ubuntu 22.04 (3 rules)
  • V-260559 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must ensure only users who need access to security functions are part of sudo group. prevents CWE-749
  • V-260529 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must be configured so that remote X connections are disabled, unless to fulfill documented and validated mission requirements. prevents CWE-749
  • V-260557 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must be configured to use AppArmor. prevents CWE-749
Ubuntu 24.04 (1 rule)
  • V-270748 Ubuntu 24.04 LTS must ensure only users who need access to security functions are part of sudo group. prevents CWE-749

References