A vulnerability in Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) polling for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to obtain confidential information about the underlying operating system. This vulnerability exists because the appliances do not protect confidential information at rest in response to SNMP poll requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SNMP poll request to the affected appliance. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to discover confidential information that should be restricted. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have the configured SNMP credentials.
With a CVSS score of 4.3, this vulnerability is classified as medium severity. The fact that it can be exploited by authenticated attackers makes it essential for organizations using these Cisco products to address this vulnerability promptly. Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive information, which could lead to further exploits if not mitigated effectively.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. The current status of the vulnerability is marked as deferred, indicating that while it has been identified, it may not yet have an available patch or remediation guidance.
Monitoring for unusual SNMP traffic and ensuring proper configuration of SNMP credentials are critical to safeguarding against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to access confidential information due to insufficient protection of data at rest related to SNMP polling. The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N, indicating a low attack complexity and low confidentiality impact. The affected systems include Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance, with the vulnerability disclosed on February 5, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the appliances' failure to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access through SNMP requests. The attack vector is network-based, which allows attackers with authenticated access to send crafted SNMP poll requests to the devices, potentially revealing confidential data. The attack complexity is low, and it requires low privileges, which means that even users with minimal access could exploit this issue. No user interaction is needed, and the impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are low, with no effect on availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information about the organization's infrastructure. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence, launch further attacks, or exploit additional vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider the potential blast radius of this issue, especially in environments where sensitive data is handled. The urgency for remediation is medium, and organizations should schedule remediation within their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance are affected by this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize applying the latest vendor patches as soon as they are available. If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should consider implementing network controls to restrict SNMP access to trusted sources only. Additionally, organizations may benefit from performing a comprehensive configuration review to ensure that SNMP credentials are adequately secured.
Continuous penetration testing should also be considered to validate that security measures are effectively preventing potential exploitation of this vulnerability.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for unusual SNMP polling activity and verify that SNMP credentials are not exposed. Review logs for any unauthorized access attempts and implement alert mechanisms for suspicious behavior related to SNMP requests.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-20207 highlights the importance of securing SNMP implementations across various network devices. As attackers increasingly target network management protocols for reconnaissance and data exfiltration, security teams must remain vigilant. This vulnerability exemplifies a broader trend of information disclosure risks, where inadequate protection leads to greater exposure to potential threats. Organizations should learn from this incident and consider adopting robust security measures and best practices in their network management environments.
API security testing and cloud penetration testing can provide additional insight into potential vulnerabilities in interconnected systems.
Penetration testing methodology should be reviewed regularly to ensure security practices adapt to evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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