{"id":51196,"date":"2025-06-12T01:30:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:30:14","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:05:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T01:05:46","slug":"cve-2025-20122-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-cisco-catalyst-sd-wan-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-20122-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-cisco-catalyst-sd-wan-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"<strong>CVE-2025-20122: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-48881-unauthorized-access-and-modification-vulnerability-in-valtimo-business-process-automation\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57407\">vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to gain root-level access<\/a> to the system, thereby jeopardizing sensitive data and the overall operations of the network.<br \/>\nGiven its severity score of 7.8, this vulnerability is of high significance and needs immediate attention from businesses and organizations utilizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-5894-critical-missing-authorization-vulnerability-in-smart-parking-management-system\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"60150\">Cisco\u2019s SD-WAN<\/a> Manager. Ensuring appropriate and timely mitigation of this vulnerability would prevent serious consequences, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2024-45565-memory-corruption-vulnerability-leading-to-potential-system-compromise-or-data-leakage\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"58071\">system compromise and data<\/a> leakage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vulnerability Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CVE ID: CVE-2025-20122<br \/>\nSeverity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)<br \/>\nAttack Vector: Local<br \/>\nPrivileges Required: Low (read-only privileges)<br \/>\nUser Interaction: None<br \/>\nImpact: Gain of root-level privileges <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2021-47668-linux-kernel-vulnerability-leading-to-potential-system-compromise-or-data-leakage\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57536\">leading to potential system compromise or data<\/a> leakage<\/p>\n<p><strong>Affected Products<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"ameeb-1118229377\" class=\"ameeb-content-2 ameeb-entity-placement\"><div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #555; padding-left: 20px; margin: 48px 0; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 700px;\">\r\n  <h2 style=\"margin-top: 0; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; display: flex; align-items: center;\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/chat\" style=\"display: inline-flex; align-items: center; margin-right: 8px;\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Best-App-icon-Ameeba.png\" alt=\"Ameeba Chat Icon\" style=\"width: 40px; height: 40px;\" \/>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n    A new way to communicate\r\n  <\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin-bottom: 12px;\">\r\n    Ameeba Chat is built on encrypted identity, not personal profiles.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin-bottom: 16px;\">\r\n    Message, call, share files, and coordinate with identities kept separate.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <ul style=\"list-style: none; padding-left: 0; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\r\n    <li>\u2022 Encrypted identity<\/li>\r\n    <li>\u2022 Ameeba Chat authenticates access<\/li>\r\n    <li>\u2022 Aliases and categories<\/li>\r\n    <li>\u2022 End-to-end encrypted chat, calls, and files<\/li>\r\n    <li>\u2022 Secure notes for sensitive information<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"font-style: italic; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\r\n    Private communication, rethought.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 12px;\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/chat\/download\" style=\"background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; padding: 10px 20px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-weight: 500;\">Download Ameeba Chat<\/a>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/chat\" style=\"border: 1px solid #ffffff; color: #ffffff; padding: 10px 20px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-weight: 500;\">Learn More<\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Product | Affected Versions<\/p>\n<p>Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager | All <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-48477-critical-vulnerability-in-freescout-prior-to-version-1-8-180\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57825\">versions prior<\/a> to patch<\/p>\n<p><strong>How the Exploit Works<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The vulnerability arises from insufficient <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-24274-input-validation-issue-exploitable-via-malicious-app-on-macos\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"59621\">input validation<\/a> in the CLI (Command Line Interface) of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. An attacker, who already has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-46584-improper-authentication-logic-vulnerability-in-file-system-module\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57986\">authenticated access with read-only privileges to the system<\/a>, 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-4631-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-profitori-wordpress-plugin\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57423\">escalating privileges<\/a> to that of a root user. This gives the attacker unrestricted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2023-20599-unauthorized-access-to-crypto-co-processor-registers-in-asp-leading-to-potential-system-compromise\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"64260\">access to the underlying operating system<\/a>, enabling them to perform potentially harmful actions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conceptual Example Code<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"ameeb-4147110780\" class=\"ameeb-content ameeb-entity-placement\"><div class=\"poptin-embedded\" data-id=\"f6b387694f681\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a conceptual example of how an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-5353-local-authenticated-attacker-exploit-in-ivanti-workspace-control\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"64261\">attacker might exploit<\/a> this vulnerability. This is based on a generic CLI scenario and should not be attempted on live systems.<\/p>\n<pre><code class=\"\" data-line=\"\"># Attacker logs in with read-only credentials\n$ ssh readonly@target.example.com\n# Attacker sends a maliciously crafted request to the CLI\n$ exploit_command --payload &quot;{ &#039;malicious_payload&#039;: &#039;...&#039; }&quot;\n# If the exploit succeeds, the attacker gains root privileges\n$ sudo su<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>In this hypothetical scenario, `exploit_command` represents the specific command or set of commands an attacker could use to exploit the vulnerability, while `&#8217;malicious_payload&#8217;` represents the specially crafted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-1041-critical-improper-input-validation-vulnerability-in-avaya-call-management-system\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"60466\">input that triggers the vulnerability<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Countermeasures and Mitigation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The most effective way to mitigate this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-49002-critical-vulnerability-in-dataease-bypassing-patch-for-cve-2025-32966\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"59622\">vulnerability is by applying the vendor-provided patch<\/a>. Cisco has released updates to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2024-49842-critical-memory-corruption-vulnerability-in-protected-vm-address-space\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"58886\">address this vulnerability<\/a> in the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. It is highly recommended to update to the latest version as soon as possible.<br \/>\nIn 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, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-22041-linux-kernel-vulnerability-in-ksmbd-sessions-deregister-may-lead-to-potential-system-compromise\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"57987\">potentially preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability<\/a>. However, this is only a temporary solution and cannot substitute the need for applying the official patch.<br \/>\nRemember, vigilance and prompt action are key to maintaining the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-7093-critical-vulnerability-in-belkin-f9k1122-1-00-33-impacting-system-security-and-data-integrity\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"91192\">security of your systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"vendor":[96],"product":[],"attack_vector":[76],"asset_type":[],"severity":[],"exploit_status":[],"class_list":["post-51196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","vendor-cisco","attack_vector-privilege-escalation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51196"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84211,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51196\/revisions\/84211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"vendor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vendor?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"attack_vector","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/attack_vector?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"asset_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/asset_type?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"severity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/severity?post=51196"},{"taxonomy":"exploit_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exploit_status?post=51196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}