CVE-2025-20171
Published: 05 February 2025
Description
A vulnerability in the SNMP subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a DoS condition on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper error handling when parsing SNMP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SNMP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the device to reload unexpectedly, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3. To exploit this vulnerability through SNMP v2c or earlier, the attacker must know a valid read-write or read-only SNMP community string for the affected system. To exploit this vulnerability through SNMP v3, the attacker must have valid SNMP user credentials for the affected system.
Security Summary
CVE-2025-20171 is a vulnerability in the SNMP subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software that stems from improper error handling when parsing SNMP requests. It affects SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H) and is associated with CWE-248 (Uncaught Exception). An authenticated, remote attacker could exploit this by sending a crafted SNMP request to an affected device, causing it to reload unexpectedly and triggering a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.
Exploitation requires authentication: for SNMP v2c or earlier, the attacker must know a valid read-write or read-only SNMP community string; for SNMP v3, valid SNMP user credentials are needed. A successful attack results solely in a DoS, with no impact on confidentiality or integrity, as the device scope is changed (S:C).
The Cisco Security Advisory at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-snmp-dos-sdxnSUcW provides details on affected versions and mitigation steps, including software updates where available.
Details
- CWE(s)