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CVE-2025-20151: Configuration in Cisco Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN

Medium
VulnerabilityCVE-2025-20151cvecve-2025-20151
Published: Wed May 07 2025 (05/07/2025, 17:18:44 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Cisco
Product: Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN

Description

A vulnerability in the implementation of the Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 (SNMPv3) feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to poll an affected device using SNMP, even if the device is configured to deny SNMP traffic from an unauthorized source or the SNMPv3 username is removed from the configuration. This vulnerability exists because of the way that the SNMPv3 configuration is stored in the Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software startup configuration. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by polling an affected device from a source address that should have been denied. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform SNMP operations from a source that should be denied. Note: The attacker has no control of the SNMPv3 configuration. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid SNMPv3 user credentials. For more information, see the section of this advisory.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/05/2025, 09:58:04 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2025-20151 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN devices, specifically in the implementation of the Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 (SNMPv3) feature. The vulnerability arises from how SNMPv3 configuration data is stored in the device's startup configuration. An authenticated remote attacker possessing valid SNMPv3 user credentials can exploit this flaw to poll an affected device from a source IP address that should be denied by the device's access control settings. This means that even if the device is configured to reject SNMP traffic from unauthorized sources or if the SNMPv3 username has been removed from the configuration, the attacker can still perform SNMP operations. Importantly, the attacker does not gain control over the SNMPv3 configuration itself but can bypass source-based access restrictions to gather information via SNMP polling. The affected Cisco IOS XE versions include a broad range from 16.9.1 through 16.12.5, covering many recent releases. The vulnerability requires that the attacker already have valid SNMPv3 credentials, which limits the attack surface but still poses a risk if credentials are compromised or leaked. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and requiring privileges (valid credentials), with no user interaction needed. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no patches are explicitly linked in the advisory, indicating that organizations should monitor Cisco advisories for updates. This vulnerability could allow unauthorized information gathering that might facilitate further attacks or reconnaissance within a network environment.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized SNMP polling of critical network infrastructure devices, potentially exposing sensitive network management information such as device configurations, status, and operational metrics. While the vulnerability does not allow direct configuration changes or denial of service, the ability to bypass source-based SNMP access controls undermines network segmentation and defense-in-depth strategies. This could aid attackers in mapping network topology, identifying vulnerabilities, or planning lateral movement within enterprise or service provider networks. Organizations relying heavily on Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN for their WAN infrastructure, especially those with stringent SNMP access policies, may find their security posture weakened. The impact is particularly relevant for sectors with high network security requirements such as finance, telecommunications, critical infrastructure, and government entities across Europe. The requirement for valid SNMPv3 credentials reduces the likelihood of widespread exploitation but elevates the risk if credential management is lax or if insider threats exist. Additionally, the vulnerability could complicate compliance with European data protection regulations if unauthorized access leads to exposure of personal or sensitive data through network management interfaces.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic advice: 1) Immediately audit and restrict SNMPv3 user credentials, ensuring only necessary accounts exist with strong, unique passwords and minimal privileges. 2) Enforce strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit SNMP traffic to trusted management stations and block all other sources at the network perimeter and internal boundaries. 3) Monitor SNMP traffic logs for unusual polling activity, especially from unexpected source IP addresses, to detect potential exploitation attempts. 4) Regularly update Cisco IOS XE devices to the latest firmware versions as Cisco releases patches addressing this vulnerability; maintain a close watch on Cisco security advisories for official fixes. 5) Consider deploying SNMPv3 with encryption and authentication features fully enabled and verify that access control lists (ACLs) are correctly applied and effective. 6) Employ network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures or anomaly detection tuned to SNMP traffic patterns to alert on suspicious behavior. 7) Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration tests focusing on network management protocols to validate the effectiveness of controls. 8) Educate network administrators on the risks of credential compromise and enforce strict credential management policies including regular rotation and use of multi-factor authentication where supported.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
cisco
Date Reserved
2024-10-10T19:15:13.216Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682d981ac4522896dcbd8e85

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:42 AM

Last enriched: 7/5/2025, 9:58:04 AM

Last updated: 8/15/2025, 12:43:06 AM

Views: 17

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