Description
A vulnerability in the peering authentication in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, formerly SD-WAN vSmart, and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly SD-WAN vManage, could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and obtain administrative privileges on an affected system. This vulnerability exists because the peering authentication mechanism in an affected system is not working properly. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to an affected Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller as an internal, high-privileged, non-root user account. Using this account, the attacker could access NETCONF, which would then allow the attacker to manipulate network configuration for the SD-WAN fabric.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2026-8675
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
Vulnerability Description: The vulnerability in question affects the peering authentication mechanism in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller (formerly SD-WAN vSmart) and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (formerly SD-WAN vManage). This flaw allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and obtain administrative privileges on an affected system.
Severity Evaluation:
- CVSS Score: 10.0
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
The CVSS score of 10.0 indicates a critical vulnerability. The high severity is due to the ease of exploitation (low attack complexity), the lack of required privileges, and the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
Attack Vectors:
- Remote Exploitation: An attacker can send crafted requests over the network to exploit the vulnerability.
- Unauthenticated Access: The attacker does not need any prior credentials or access to the system.
Exploitation Methods:
- Crafted Requests: The attacker can send specially crafted authentication requests to the affected system.
- Administrative Access: Upon successful exploitation, the attacker gains access to a high-privileged, non-root user account.
- NETCONF Manipulation: With administrative access, the attacker can manipulate the network configuration for the SD-WAN fabric, potentially causing widespread disruption.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. Affected versions include but are not limited to:
- 18.3.7
- 20.9.4.1.1
- 20.3.7.1
- 20.6.4.1
- 20.9.3.2_LI_Images
- 20.6.5.1.11
- 20.18.1_LI_Images
- 20.9.5.2.16
- 20.9.5
- 20.16.1
- 20.9.7
- 20.12.3.1
- 20.6.5.1.7
- 20.4.2.0.2
- 20.9.2.0.01
- 20.6.5.1.9
- 20.12.4.0.6
- 20.4.2.2
- 20.9.3.0.26
- 20.9.3.0.2
- 20.9.3.0.18
- 20.9.3.0.29
- 20.4.2.2.3
- 20.6.3.0.18
- 20.6.3.0.51
- 20.9.5.3_LI_Images
- 20.3.4.0.26
- 20.9.3.0.23
- 20.6.5.1.14
- 20.9.6
- 20.6.5.1.1
- 20.12.3_LI_Images
- 20.6.3.0.40
- 20.6.5.1.10
- 20.9.4
- 20.6.3.0.46
- 20.6.3.0.10
- 20.3.4.1.1
- 20.9.3.0.20
- 20.3.2_925
- 20.6.5.1.11
- 20.12.5.1_LI_Images
- 20.6.5.1.13
- 20.3.5.0.8
- 20.4.2.2.1
- 20.3.3.1
- 20.3.4.0.25
- 20.3.2.0.6
- 20.6.5.1
- 20.12.5.1.01
- 20.3.5.0.7
- 20.9.3.0.25
- 20.6.5
- 20.6.3.0.19
- 20.9.8_LI_Images
- 20.9.8
- 20.6.5.2
- 20.4.2.1
- 20.12.6
- 20.6.4
- 20.18.2_LI_Images
- 20.9.5.2.14
- 20.9.5.2.13
- 20.6.7
- 20.4.2.0.1
- 20.6.5.4
- 20.6.2.2.2
- 20.9.7.1_LI _Images
- 20.6.1.2
- 20.9.4.1.6
- 20.6.1.1
- 20.18.1
- 20.9.5
- 20.16.1
- 20.9.7
- 20.12.3
- 20.12.2_LI_Images
- 20.3.4.0.9
- 20.3.4.3
- 20.9.5.1
- 20.4.2.0.1
- 20.6.7
- 20.4.2.2.3
- 20.9.3_LI_ Images
- 20.15.3_ LI _Images
- 20.9.5.3
- 20.3.813
- 20.3.814
- 20.4.2.3
- 20.9.3.0.12
- 20.6.3.1
- 20.6.3.0.25
- 20.9.8_LI_Images
- 20.9.1.1
- 20.3.2.1_930
- 20.7.1.0.2
- 20.3.8
- 20.6.5.1.6
- 20.3.4.2
- 20.3.4.0.24
- 20.6.3.0.23
- 20.3.4.1
- 20.9.3.0.21
- 20.6.3.2
- 20.3.4.0.20
- 20.9.3.0.24
- 20.6.5.1.10
- 20.9.3.0.26
- 20.9.3.0.16
- 20.9.3.0.17
- 20.3.3.0.18
- 20.3.3.0.2
- 20.9.3.0.4
- 20.9.3.0.14
- 20.3.4.1.2
- 20.9.3.0.22
- 20.9.3.0.29
- 20.9.3.0.23
- 20.9.3.0.20
- 20.9.3.0.25
- 20.9.3.0.24
- 20.9.3.0.21
- 20.9.3.0.26
- 20.9.3.0.29
- 20.9.3.0.28
- 20.9.3.0.27
- 20.9.3.0.26
- 20.9.3.0.25
- 20.9.3.0.24
- 20.9.3.0.23
- 20.9.3.0.22
- 20.9.3.0.21
- 20.9.3.0.20
- 20.9.3.0.19
- 20.9.3.0.18
- 20.9.3.0.17
- 20.9.3.0.16
- 20.9.3.0.15
- 20.9.3.0.14
- 20.9.3.0.13
- 20.9.3.0.12
- 20.9.3.0.11
- 20.9.3.0.10
- 20.9.3.0.9
- 20.9.3.0.8
- 20.9.3.0.7
- 20.9.3.0.6
- 20.9.3.0.5
- 20.9.3.0.4
- 20.9.3.0.3
- 20.9.3.0.2
- 20.9.3.0.1
- 20.9.3.0.0
- 20.9.3.0
- 20.9.3
- 20.9.2.1
- 20.9.2.0.01
- 20.9.2
- 20.9.1.1
- 20.9.1
- 20.9.0
- 20.8.1
- 20.7.2
- 20.7.1.1
- 20.7.1.0.2
- 20.7.1
- 20.6.6.0.1
- 20.6.6
- 20.6.5.2.1
- 20.6.5.2
- 20.6.5.1.10
- 20.6.5.1.9
- 20.6.5.1.8
- 20.6.5.1.7
- 20.6.5.1.6
- 20.6.5.1.5
- 20.6.5.1.4
- 20.6.5.1.3
- 20.6.5.1.2
- 20.6.5.1.1
- 20.6.5.1
- 20.6.5
- 20.6.4.0.21
- 20.6.4.0.19
- 20.6.4
- 20.6.3.0.51
- 20.6.3.0.47
- 20.6.3.0.46
- 20.6.3.0.45
- 20.6.3.0.44
- 20.6.3.0.43
- 20.6.3.0.42
- 20.6.3.0.41
- 20.6.3.0.40
- 20.6.3.0.39
- 20.6.3.0.38
- 20.6.3.0.37
- 20.6.3.0.36
- 20.6.3.0.35
- 20.6.3.0.34
- 20.6.3.0.33
- 20.6.3.0.32
- 20.6.3.0.31
- 20.6.3.0.30
- 20.6.3.0.29
- 20.6.3.0.28
- 20.6.3.0.27
- 20.6.3.0.26
- 20.6.3.0.25
- 20.6.3.0.24
- 20.6.3.0.23
- 20.6.3.0.22
- 20.6.3.0.21
- 20.6.3.0.20
- 20.6.3.0.19
- 20.6.3.0.18
- 20.6.3.0.17
- 20.6.3.0.16
- 20.6.3.0.15
- 20.6.3.0.14
- 20.6.3.0.13
- 20.6.3.0.12
- 20.6.3.0.11
- 20.6.3.0.10
- 20.6.3.0.9
- 20.6.3.0.8
- 20.6.3.0.7
- 20.6.3.0.6
- 20.6.3.0.5
- 20.6.3.0.4
- 20.6.3.0.3
- 20.6.3.0.2
- 20.6.3.0.1
- 20.6.3.0
- 20.6.3
- 20.6.2.2.7
- 20.6.2.2.6
- 20.6.2.2.5
- 20.6.2.2.4
- 20.6.2.2.3
- 20.6.2.2.2
- 20.6.2.2.1
- 20.6.2.2
- 20.6.2.1
- 20.6.2
- 20.6.1.2
- 20.6.1.1
- 20.6.1.0.1
- 20.6.1
- 20.6.0.18.4
- 20.6.0.18.3
- 20.6.0.18.2
- 20.6.0.18.1
- 20.6.0.18
- 20.6.0.17
- 20.6.0.16
- 20.6.0.15
- 20.6.0.14
- 20.6.0.13
- 20.6.0.12
- 20.6.0.11
- 20.6.0.10
- 20.6.0.9
- 20.6.0.8
- 20.6.0.7
- 20.6.0.6
- 20.6.0.5
- 20.6.0.4
- 20.6.0.3
- 20.6.0.2
- 20.6.0.1
- 20.6.0
- 20.5.1.2
- 20.5.1.1
- 20.5.1.0.2
- 20.5.1.0.1
- 20.5.1
- 20.5.0.1.1
- 20.5.0.1
- 20.5.0
- 20.4.2.3
- 20.4.2.2.8
- 20.4.2.2.7
- 20.4.2.2.6
- 20.4.2.2.5
- 20.4.2.2.4
- 20.4.2.2.3
- 20.4.2.2.2
- 20.4.2.2.1
- 20.4.2.2
- 20.4.2.1.1
- 20.4.2.1
- 20.4.2
- 20.4.1.2
- 20.4.1.1.5
- 20.4.1.1
- 20.4.1.0.1
- 20.4.1.0.02
- 20.4.1.0.01
- 20.4.1
- 20.4.0.1
- 20.4.0
- 20.3.814
- 20.3.813
- 20.3.8
- 20.3.7.2
- 20.3.7.1
- 20.3.7
- 20.3.6
- 20.3.5.1
- 20.3.5.0.9
- 20.3.5.0.8
- 20.3.5.0.7
- 20.3.5
- 20.3.4.2.2
- 20.3.4.2.1
- 20.3.4.2
- 20.3.4.1.2
- 20.3.4.1.1
- 20.3.4.1
- 20.3.4.0.26
- 20.3.4.0.25
- 20.3.4.0.24
- 20.3.4.0.23
- 20.3.4.0.22
- 20.3.4.0.21
- 20.3.4.0.20
- 20.3.4.0.19
- 20.3.4.0.18
- 20.3.4.0.17
- 20.3.4.0.16
- 20.3.4.0.15
- 20.3.4.0.14
- 20.3.4.0.13
- 20.3.4.0.12
- 20.3.4.0.11
- 20.3.4.0.10
- 20.3.4.0.9
- 20.3.4.0.8
- 20.3.4.0.7
- 20.3.4.0.6
- 20.3.4.0.5
- 20.3.4.0.4
- 20.3.4.0.3
- 20.3.4.0.2
- 20.3.4.0.1
- 20.3.4
- 20.3.3.1.7
- 20.3.3.1.6
- 20.3.3.1.5
- 20.3.3.1.4
- 20.3.3.1.3
- 20.3.3.1.2
- 20.3.3.1.1
- 20.3.3.1
- 20.3.3.0.18
- 20.3.3.0.17
- 20.3.3.0.16
- 20.3.3.0.15
- 20.3.3.0.14
- 20.3.3.0.13
- 20.3.3.0.12
- 20.3.3.0.11
- 20.3.3.0.10
- 20.3.3.0.9
- 20.3.3.0.8
- 20.3.3.0.7
- 20.3.3.0.6
- 20.3.3.0.5
- 20.3.3.0.4
- 20.3.3.0.3
- 20.3.3.0.2
- 20.3.3.0.1
- 20.3.3
- 20.3.2.1_930
- 20.3.2.1_929
- 20.3.2.1_928
- 20.3.2.1_927
- 20.3.2.1_926
- 20.3.2.1_925
- 20.3.2.1
- 20.3.2.0.6
- 20.3.2.0.5
- 20.3.2
- 20.3.1.1
- 20.3.1
- 20.3.0
- 20.2.1
- 20.2.0
- 20.1.3.1
- 20.1.3
- 20.1.2
- 20.1.1.1
- 20.1.1
- 20.1.0
- 20.0.1
- 20.0.0
- 19.3.0
- 19.2.929
- 19.2.32
- 19.2.31
- 19.2.3
- 19.2.2
- 19.2.1
- 19.2.099
- 19.2.098
- 19.2.097
- 19.2.0
- 19.1.0
- 18.4.501_ES
- 18.4.4
- 18.4.302
- 18.4.3
- 18.4.2
- 18.4.1
- 18.4.0.1
- 18.4.0
- 18.3.8
- 18.3.7
- 18.3.6.1
- 18.3.6
- 18.3.5
- 18.3.4.2.2
- 18.3.4.2.1
- 18.3.4.2
- 18.3.4.1
- 18.3.4.0.26
- 18.3.4.0.25
- 18.3.4.0.24
- 18.3.4.0.23
- 18.3.4.0.22
- 18.3.4.0.21
- 18.3.4.0.20
- 18.3.4.0.19
- 18.3.4.0.18
- 18.3.4.0.17
- 18.3.4.0.16
- 18.3.4.0.15
- 18.3.4.0.14
- 18.3.4.0.13
- 18.3.4.0.12
- 18.3.4.0.11
- 18.3.4.0.10
- 18.3.4.0.9
- 18.3.4.0.8
- 18.3.4.0.7
- 18.3.4.0.6
- 18.3.4.0.5
- 18.3.4.0.4
- 18.3.4.0.3
- 18.3.4.0.2
- 18.3.4.0.1
- 18.3.4
- 18.3.3.1.7
- 18.3.3.1.6
- 18.3.3.1.5
- 18.3.3.1.4
- 18.3.3.1.3
- 18.3.3.1.2
- 18.3.3.1.1
- 18.3.3.1
- 18.3.3.0.18
- 18.3.3.0.17
- 18.3.3.0.16
- 18.3.3.0.15
- 18.3.3.0.14
- 18.3.3.0.13
- 18.3.3.0.12
- 18.3.3.0.11
- 18.3.3.0.10
- 18.3.3.0.9
- 18.3.3.0.8
- 18.3.3.0.7
- 18.3.3.0.6
- 18.3.3.0.5
- 18.3.3.0.4
- 18.3.3.0.3
- 18.3.3.0.2
- 18.3.3.0.1
- 18.3.3
- 18.3.2.1_930
- 18.3.2.1_929
- 18.3.2.1_928
- 18.3.2.1_927
- 18.3.2.1_926
- 18.3.2.1_925
- 18.3.2.1
- 18.3.2.0.6
- 18.3.2.0.5
- 18.3.2
- 18.3.1.1
- 18.3.1
- 18.3.0
- 18.2.0
- 17.2.10
- 17.2.9
- 17.2.8
- 17.2.7
- 17.2.6
- 17.2.5
- 17.2.4
- 17.2.3
- 17.2.2
- 17.2.1
- 17.2.0
- 17.1.0
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
-
Patch Management:
- Immediately apply the latest patches and updates provided by Cisco for the affected versions of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager.
- Regularly check for and apply security updates to ensure that all systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.
-
Network Segmentation:
- Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems and reduce the attack surface.
- Use firewalls and access control lists (ACLs) to restrict access to the SD-WAN management interfaces.
-
Access Control:
- Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.
- Limit administrative access to trusted networks and users.
-
Monitoring and Logging:
- Enable comprehensive logging and monitoring of network activities.
- Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
-
Incident Response:
- Develop and maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any security breaches.
- Regularly test the incident response plan to ensure its effectiveness.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to European organizations using Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solutions. The potential for unauthenticated remote attackers to gain administrative access and manipulate network configurations can lead to widespread disruption and data breaches. This underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and timely patch management to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Exploitation Details:
- Initial Access: The attacker sends crafted authentication requests to the affected system.
- Privilege Escalation: Upon successful exploitation, the attacker gains access to a high-privileged, non-root user account.
- Network Manipulation: The attacker can then manipulate the network configuration for the SD-WAN fabric via NETCONF.
Detection and Response:
- Indicators of Compromise (IoCs): Monitor for unusual authentication attempts and unauthorized access to administrative interfaces.
- Log Analysis: Review logs for suspicious activities, such as repeated failed login attempts or unexpected configuration changes.
- Incident Response: Isolate affected systems, apply patches, and conduct a thorough investigation to identify the extent of the compromise.
References:
By following these recommendations and staying vigilant, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with this critical vulnerability and protect their SD-WAN infrastructure from potential attacks.