Cisco Data Center Network Manager/Nexus Dashboard SSH key exchange without entity authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Cisco Data Center Network Manager and Nexus Dashboard. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component SSH. Such manipulation leads to key exchange without entity authentication. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2025-20163. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco Data Center Network Manager and Nexus Dashboard (affected version not known) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component SSH. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a key exchange without entity authentication vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-322. The product performs a key exchange with an actor without verifying the identity of that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A vulnerability in the SSH implementation of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to impersonate Cisco NDFC-managed devices. This vulnerability is due to insufficient SSH host key validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by performing a machine-in-the-middle attack on SSH connections to Cisco NDFC-managed devices, which could allow an attacker to intercept this traffic. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to impersonate a managed device and capture user credentials.

The advisory is shared for download at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-20163 since 10/10/2024. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/06/2025).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-16891). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Temp Score: 5.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 8.7
CNA Vector (cisco): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Key exchange without entity authentication
CWE: CWE-322 / CWE-320
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

10/10/2024 🔍
06/04/2025 +237 days 🔍
06/04/2025 +0 days 🔍
06/06/2025 +2 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-ndfc-shkv-snQJtjrp
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-20163 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-20163
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-311180
EUVD: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/04/2025 20:20
Updated: 06/06/2025 09:38
Changes: 06/04/2025 20:20 (63), 06/04/2025 20:52 (1), 06/06/2025 09:38 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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