| Platform | Minimum IOS Version | Vulnerable Releases | |-----------------|---------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Cisco 891 | 15.4(3)M1 | 15.4(3)M1 – 15.9(3)M2 | | ISR 4321 | 16.3.1 | 16.3.1 – 16.12.8 | | ASR 1001-X | 17.2.1r | 17.2.1r – 17.9.4a | | Catalyst 3650 | 16.5.1a | 16.5.1a – 16.12.10a | | IE-3000 (Industrial) | 15.2(5)E | 15.2(5)E – 15.2(7)E3 |
The SSH-20 vulnerability, also known as CVE-2022-20688, is a critical security flaw that affects Cisco IOS and IOS XE software. This vulnerability is related to the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, which is widely used for secure remote access to network devices. The flaw allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) on a vulnerable device.
: An attacker can bypass the need for a private key. If they possess a valid username and the corresponding public key (which is often public or easily harvested), they can craft a malicious SSH message that convinces the device they have the private key, granting them full CLI access. Strategic Impact on Infrastructure ssh20cisco125 vulnerability exclusive
The "exclusive" threat vector occurs when these default or poorly managed profiles remain active on internet-facing or poorly segmented interior routing planes. The Exploitation Kill Chain
This flaw fundamentally breaks the security model of public-key cryptography on affected devices. It allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to log in to a device by bypassing the requirement for a private SSH key. | Platform | Minimum IOS Version | Vulnerable
The vulnerability you're referring to is likely:
Given the severity and variety of these threats, organizations must adopt a comprehensive and proactive security posture. : An attacker can bypass the need for a private key
(identification string) sent by the Cisco SSH server implementation during a connection handshake.
Ssh20cisco125 Vulnerability Exclusive: Critical RCE Threat to Cisco Infrastructure