CVE-2020-3375 in SD-WAN Solution
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco SD-WAN Solution Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a buffer overflow on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted traffic to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain access to information that they are not authorized to access, make changes to the system that they are not authorized to make, and execute commands on an affected system with privileges of the root user.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3375 affects Cisco SD-WAN Solution Software, representing a critical buffer overflow flaw that exposes affected devices to remote exploitation without authentication requirements. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system behavior through carefully crafted network traffic. The affected Cisco SD-WAN solution operates within enterprise networking environments where secure and reliable network operations are paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on these solutions for their network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs when an unauthenticated attacker sends specifically designed packets to the affected device, triggering memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. This flaw falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory management where data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated memory space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data corruption as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of system configurations, and execution of malicious commands with the highest level of system privileges.
From an operational perspective, the implications of CVE-2020-3375 are severe for organizations utilizing Cisco SD-WAN solutions, as the vulnerability allows for complete system takeover without requiring any authentication credentials. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where network security is paramount and where unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or compromise of critical network infrastructure. The attack vector is accessible over the network, meaning that remote exploitation is possible from any location, and the lack of authentication requirements eliminates any barriers to entry for potential attackers. Organizations may face significant operational disruptions including network outages, data loss, and potential compliance violations when systems are compromised through this vulnerability.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3375 include immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and updates released to address the buffer overflow vulnerability, along with network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their SD-WAN infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, requiring defensive measures that include network firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing secure configuration practices for SD-WAN devices and maintaining up-to-date security monitoring capabilities will help organizations reduce their attack surface and improve overall network resilience against similar vulnerabilities.