CVE-2019-1955
mediumpriority · track · 30EPSS 0.014 · 73 %ileEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
A vulnerability in the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) functionality of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Email Security Appliances (ESA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass configured user filters on the device. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input and validation checking mechanisms for certain SPF messages that are sent to an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a customized SPF packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass the header filters that are configured for the affected device, which could allow malicious content to pass through the device.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco Email Security Appliance (ESA)cisco_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⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 5–7.5
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (5)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- cisco email security appliance firmware< 4.0mr1nvdUScpe:2.3:o:cisco:email_security_appliance_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cisco email security appliance firmware= 12.0nvdUScpe:2.3:o:cisco:email_security_appliance_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- cisco-sa-20190807-esm-injectCisco Email Security Appliance Header Injection Vulnerability2019-08-07csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) functionality of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Email Security Appliances (ESA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass configured user filters on the device. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input and validation checking mechanisms for certain SPF messages that are sent to an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a customized SPF packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass the header filters that are configured for the affected device, which could allow malicious content to pass through the device. 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-20190807-esm-inject ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190807-esm-inject"]
also known as (4)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (8)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCvp27126Patchcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-1955cnnvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190807-esm-injectcnnvd
- https://vigilance.fr/vulnerability/Cisco-ESA-privilege-escalation-via-SPF-Header-Bypass-29979cnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2019.2992.2/cnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2019.2992/cnnvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190807-esm-injectenisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190807-esm-injectVendor Advisorynvd
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