Cisco Secure Web Appliance: Use of Hard-coded Credentials
CVE-2022-20868 is a high-severity use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability in Cisco Secure Web Appliance from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Secure Web Appliance versions: 11.8.0-414; 11.8.1-023; 11.8.3-018, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 57% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Asyncos to 14.2.1 or 14.2.0 or 12.5.5 or 14.0.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Web Appliance | 11.8.0-414; 11.8.1-023; 11.8.3-018; 11.8.3-021; 12.0.1-268; 12.0.3-007; 12.5.2-007; 12.5.1-011; and 3 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Email | 13.0.0-392; 13.5.1-277; 14.0.0-698; 14.2.0-620 | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager | 12.0.0-452; 12.0.1-011; 12.5.0-636; 12.5.0-658; 12.5.0-678; 12.5.0-670; 13.0.0-277; 13.6.2-078; and 6 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Asyncos | 13.0 up to, but not including, 14.2.1; 12.0 up to, but not including, 14.2.0; 11.8 up to, but not including, 12.5.5; 14.0 up to, but not including, 14.0.4; 14.5 | 14.2.1, 14.2.0, 12.5.5, 14.0.4 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- 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:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.7 | Medium | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Email Security Appliance, Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager and Cisco Secure Web Appliance could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected system. The attacker needs valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability is due to the use of a hardcoded value to encrypt a token used for certain APIs calls . An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and sending a crafted HTTP request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to impersonate another valid user and execute commands with the privileges of that user account.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Hard-coded Credentials
The product contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For outbound authentication: store passwords, keys, and other credentials outside of the code in a strongly-protected, encrypted configuration file or database that is protected from access by all outsiders, including other local users on the same system. Properly protect the key (CWE-320). If you cannot use encryption to protect the file, then make sure that the permissions are as restrictive as possible. In Windows environments, the Encrypted File System (EFS) may provide some protection.
- For inbound authentication: Rather than hard-code a default username and password, key, or other authentication credentials for first time logins, utilize a first login mode that requires the user to enter a unique strong password or key.
- If the product must contain hard-coded credentials or they cannot be removed, perform access control checks and limit which entities can access the feature that requires the hard-coded credentials. For example, a feature might only be enabled through the system console instead of through a network connection.
More Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-798)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Web Appliance
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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