CVE-2018-15370
mediumpriority · track · 27EPSS 0.004 · 30 %ileEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS ROM Monitor (ROMMON) Software for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco Secure Boot validation checks and load a compromised software image on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to the presence of a hidden command in the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting to an affected device via the console, forcing the device into ROMMON mode, and writing a malicious pattern to a specific memory address on the device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass signature validation checks by Cisco Secure Boot technology and load a compromised software image on the affected device. A compromised software image is any software image that has not been digitally signed by Cisco.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switchescisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (4)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches ROM Monitor Software Secure Boot Bypass Vulnerability2018-09-26csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS ROM Monitor (ROMMON) Software for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco Secure Boot validation checks and load a compromised software image on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to the presence of a hidden command in the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting to an affected device via the console, forcing the device into ROMMON mode, and writing a malicious pattern to a specific memory address on the device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass signature validation checks by Cisco Secure Boot technology and load a compromised software image on the affected device. A compromised software image is any software image that has not been digitally signed by Cisco. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. This advisory is available at the following link: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800 ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800"]
also known as (4)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800cnnvd
- https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105412cnnvd
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105412enisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800enisa_euvd
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105412Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entrynvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180926-catalyst6800Vendor Advisorynvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan