CVE-2025-20122 in Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2025
This vulnerability exists within the command line interface of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly known as Cisco SD-WAN vManage, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the system's security posture. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CLI component, creating an exploitable pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access on the underlying operating system. The flaw specifically affects systems where attackers already possess read-only credentials, making it particularly concerning as it requires minimal initial access to potentially compromise the entire system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending a crafted request through the CLI interface that bypasses normal authentication and authorization checks. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-20, which encompasses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic privilege escalation vector where insufficient validation allows malicious inputs to be interpreted as privileged commands. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates within the CLI, which is a fundamental administrative interface that often has elevated permissions and direct access to system resources. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands with the highest system privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data and network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the underlying operating system and all its resources. This includes the ability to modify system configurations, install malicious software, access confidential data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the entire SD-WAN Manager ecosystem, potentially impacting network management capabilities and the security of distributed network infrastructures that rely on this platform. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and represents a critical weakness that could enable attackers to maintain persistent access and conduct advanced persistent threat operations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco security advisories and patches to address this vulnerability. Mitigation strategies should include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the SD-WAN Manager system, enforcing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual CLI activity, and conducting regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and maintaining comprehensive audit logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in administrative interfaces and demonstrates the critical need for continuous security testing of privileged system components to prevent similar weaknesses from being exploited in production environments.