CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-20775Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Cisco SD-WAN Path Traversal

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-20775 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN versions: 18.3.1; 19.2.1; 17.2.4, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on February 25, 2026, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update Catalyst Sd-wan Manager to 20.6.3 or 20.7.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Sd-wan Vbond Orchestrator to 20.6.3 or 20.7.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Update Sd-wan Vedge Cloud to 20.6.3 or 20.7.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. CISA's required action: Please adhere to CISA’s guidelines to assess exposure and mitigate risks associated with Cisco SD-WAN devices as outlines in CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-03 (URL listed below in Notes) and CISA’s “Hunt & Hardening Guidance for Cisco SD-WAN Devices (URL listed below in Notes). Adhere to the applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are not available.
  5. Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
CiscoCisco Catalyst SD-WAN18.3.1; 19.2.1; 17.2.4; 19.3.0; 18.3.0; 18.3.4; 18.4.303; 18.4.0.1; and 32 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager20.1.12; 19.2.1; 18.4.4; 18.4.5; 20.1.1.1; 20.1.1; 19.3.0; 19.2.2; and 32 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCisco SD-WAN vContainer18.4.5; 20.1.12; 18.3.6; 19.2.1; 19.3.0; 20.1.1; 19.2.2; 18.3.8; and 28 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCisco SD-WAN vEdge Cloud19.2.1; 20.1.12; 18.4.4; 19.3.0; 18.3.8; 19.2.2; 20.1.1; 18.3.6; and 32 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCisco SD-WAN vEdge Router18.4.303; 18.3.7; 19.3.0; 18.2.0; 20.1.12; 19.2.099; 17.2.10; 18.3.3; and 32 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCatalyst Sd-wan Managerbefore 20.6.3; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.2; 20.820.6.3, 20.7.2
CiscoSd-wan Vbond Orchestratorbefore 20.6.3; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.2; 20.820.6.3, 20.7.2
CiscoSd-wan Vedge Cloudbefore 20.6.3; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.2; 20.820.6.3, 20.7.2
CiscoSd-wan Vsmart Controllerbefore 20.6.3; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.2; 20.820.6.3, 20.7.2
CiscoSd-wanbefore 20.6.3; 20.7 up to, but not including, 20.7.2; 20.820.6.3, 20.7.2

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighCNA (cisco.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain elevated privileges. This vulnerability is due to improper access controls on commands within the application CLI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by running a maliciously crafted command on the application CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sd-wan-priv-E6e8tEdF

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.

More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  4. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

All Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

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