Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager: Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint
CVE-2025-20122 is a high-severity channel accessible by non-endpoint vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 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 Manager versions: 20.1.12; 19.2.1; 18.4.4, 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 0.15% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager | 20.1.12; 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 ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Catalyst Sd-wan Manager | 17.2.4; 17.2.5; 17.2.6; 17.2.7; 17.2.8; 17.2.9; 17.2.10; 18.2.0; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
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 CNA (cisco.com).
Official description
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly Cisco SD-WAN vManage, could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain privileges of the root user on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An authenticated attacker with read-only privileges on the SD-WAN Manager system could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the CLI of the SD-WAN Manager. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain root privileges on the underlying operating system.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint
The product does not adequately verify the identity of actors at both ends of a communication channel, or does not adequately ensure the integrity of the channel, in a way that allows the channel to be accessed or influenced by an actor that is not an endpoint.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- In order to establish secure communication between two parties, it is often important to adequately verify the identity of entities at each end of the communication channel. Always fully authenticate both ends of any communications channel.
- Adhere to the principle of complete mediation.
- A certificate binds an identity to a cryptographic key to authenticate a communicating party. Often, the certificate takes the encrypted form of the hash of the identity of the subject, the public key, and information such as time of issue or expiration using the issuer's private key. The certificate can be validated by deciphering the certificate with the issuer's public key. See also X.509 certificate signature chains and the PGP certification structure.
More Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint vulnerabilities (CWE-300)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
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