Overview
In the rapidly evolving digital world, the security of software and network devices is of paramount importance. The vulnerability in focus, CVE-2025-20122, is a critical one that affects Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, a product widely used in managing network systems across various industries. This vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to gain root-level access to the system, thereby jeopardizing sensitive data and the overall operations of the network.
Given its severity score of 7.8, this vulnerability is of high significance and needs immediate attention from businesses and organizations utilizing Cisco’s SD-WAN Manager. Ensuring appropriate and timely mitigation of this vulnerability would prevent serious consequences, including system compromise and data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-20122
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low (read-only privileges)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Gain of root-level privileges leading to potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
Escape the Surveillance Era
Most apps won’t tell you the truth.
They’re part of the problem.
Phone numbers. Emails. Profiles. Logs.
It’s all fuel for surveillance.
Ameeba Chat gives you a way out.
- • No phone number
- • No email
- • No personal info
- • Anonymous aliases
- • End-to-end encrypted
Chat without a trace.
Product | Affected Versions
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager | All versions prior to patch
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation in the CLI (Command Line Interface) of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. An attacker, who already has authenticated access with read-only privileges to the system, can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to the CLI. This malicious request can bypass the usual restrictions imposed on a read-only user, thereby escalating privileges to that of a root user. This gives the attacker unrestricted access to the underlying operating system, enabling them to perform potentially harmful actions.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability. This is based on a generic CLI scenario and should not be attempted on live systems.
# Attacker logs in with read-only credentials
$ ssh readonly@target.example.com
# Attacker sends a maliciously crafted request to the CLI
$ exploit_command --payload "{ 'malicious_payload': '...' }"
# If the exploit succeeds, the attacker gains root privileges
$ sudo suIn this hypothetical scenario, `exploit_command` represents the specific command or set of commands an attacker could use to exploit the vulnerability, while `’malicious_payload’` represents the specially crafted input that triggers the vulnerability.
Countermeasures and Mitigation
The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is by applying the vendor-provided patch. Cisco has released updates to address this vulnerability in the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. It is highly recommended to update to the latest version as soon as possible.
In the interim, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These systems can be configured to monitor and block suspicious requests, potentially preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability. However, this is only a temporary solution and cannot substitute the need for applying the official patch.
Remember, vigilance and prompt action are key to maintaining the security of your systems.