CVE-2018-15439
highpriority · attend · 66OT risk · highEPSS 0.497 · 99 %ileexploit · weaponizedEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
A vulnerability in the Cisco Small Business Switches software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass the user authentication mechanism of an affected device. The vulnerability exists because under specific circumstances, the affected software enables a privileged user account without notifying administrators of the system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using this account to log in to an affected device and execute commands with full admin rights. Cisco has not released software updates that address this vulnerability. This advisory will be updated with fixed software information once fixed software becomes available. There is a workaround to address this vulnerability.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco 350 Series Managed Switches cisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco 350X Series Stackable Managed Switches cisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco 550X Series Stackable Managed Switchescisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco Small Business 300 Series Managed Switchescisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco Small Business 500 Series Stackable Managed Switches cisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - WorkaroundCisco 350 Series Managed Switches cisco_csaf
The workaround consists of adding at least one user account with access privilege set to level 15 in the device configuration. The following example shows how to configure an account by using admin as user ID, setting the access privilege to level 15, and defining the password by replacing <strong_password> with a complex password chosen by the user. By adding this user account, the default privileged account will be disabled. Switch# configure terminal Switch(config)# username admin privilege 15 password <strong_password> The command show running-config | include privilege 15 will now produce the following output: Switch# show running-config | include privilege 15 username admin password encrypted <encrypted-password> privilege 15
- WorkaroundCisco 350X Series Stackable Managed Switches cisco_csaf
The workaround consists of adding at least one user account with access privilege set to level 15 in the device configuration. The following example shows how to configure an account by using admin as user ID, setting the access privilege to level 15, and defining the password by replacing <strong_password> with a complex password chosen by the user. By adding this user account, the default privileged account will be disabled. Switch# configure terminal Switch(config)# username admin privilege 15 password <strong_password> The command show running-config | include privilege 15 will now produce the following output: Switch# show running-config | include privilege 15 username admin password encrypted <encrypted-password> privilege 15
- WorkaroundCisco 550X Series Stackable Managed Switchescisco_csaf
The workaround consists of adding at least one user account with access privilege set to level 15 in the device configuration. The following example shows how to configure an account by using admin as user ID, setting the access privilege to level 15, and defining the password by replacing <strong_password> with a complex password chosen by the user. By adding this user account, the default privileged account will be disabled. Switch# configure terminal Switch(config)# username admin privilege 15 password <strong_password> The command show running-config | include privilege 15 will now produce the following output: Switch# show running-config | include privilege 15 username admin password encrypted <encrypted-password> privilege 15
- WorkaroundCisco Small Business 300 Series Managed Switchescisco_csaf
The workaround consists of adding at least one user account with access privilege set to level 15 in the device configuration. The following example shows how to configure an account by using admin as user ID, setting the access privilege to level 15, and defining the password by replacing <strong_password> with a complex password chosen by the user. By adding this user account, the default privileged account will be disabled. Switch# configure terminal Switch(config)# username admin privilege 15 password <strong_password> The command show running-config | include privilege 15 will now produce the following output: Switch# show running-config | include privilege 15 username admin password encrypted <encrypted-password> privilege 15
- WorkaroundCisco Small Business 500 Series Stackable Managed Switches cisco_csaf
The workaround consists of adding at least one user account with access privilege set to level 15 in the device configuration. The following example shows how to configure an account by using admin as user ID, setting the access privilege to level 15, and defining the password by replacing <strong_password> with a complex password chosen by the user. By adding this user account, the default privileged account will be disabled. Switch# configure terminal Switch(config)# username admin privilege 15 password <strong_password> The command show running-config | include privilege 15 will now produce the following output: Switch# show running-config | include privilege 15 username admin password encrypted <encrypted-password> privilege 15
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · high–critical · 9.3–9.8
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (1)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
affected products (127)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- cisco-sa-20181107-sbsw-privaccCisco Small Business Switches Privileged Access Vulnerability2018-11-07csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in the Cisco Small Business Switches software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass the user authentication mechanism of an affected device. The vulnerability exists because under specific circumstances, the affected software enables a privileged user account without notifying administrators of the system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using this account to log in to an affected device and execute commands with full admin rights. Cisco has not released software updates that address this vulnerability. This advisory will be updated with fixed software information once fixed software becomes available. There is a workaround to address this vulnerability. This advisory is available at the following link: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20181107-sbsw-privacc ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20181107-sbsw-privacc"]
also known as (5)
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-20181107-sbsw-privacccnnvd
- https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105873cnnvd
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105873enisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20181107-sbsw-privaccenisa_euvd
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105873Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entrynvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20181107-sbsw-privaccVendor Advisorynvd
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