CVE-2021-40119CWE-321

Cisco Policy Suite Static SSH Keys Vulnerability

Critical · published November 4, 2021

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
2%
Percentile
84.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 An attacker could waltz right into your system as root — thanks to reused SSH keys in Cisco Policy Suite! 🔥 This vulnerability is like a hotel giving every visitor the same keycard to the penthouse suite — if you have one, it's a free pass to access everything. Just like that, an attacker can exploit these shared SSH keys to gain root access without breaking a sweat! The consequences of this vulnerability are absolutely devastating. With root access, an attacker could manipulate your entire system, steal sensitive data, or install malicious software. It's a recipe for chaos that could cripple your operations!

Put simply

This vulnerability is like a hotel giving every visitor the same keycard to the penthouse suite — if you have one, it's a free pass to access everything. Just like that, an attacker can exploit these shared SSH keys to gain root access without breaking a sweat! The vulnerability arises from the reuse of static SSH keys across installations of Cisco Policy Suite, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to log in as the root user if they can extract a key from another system they control.

What to do

The consequences of this vulnerability are absolutely devastating. With root access, an attacker could manipulate your entire system, steal sensitive data, or install malicious software. It's a recipe for chaos that could cripple your operations! Immediate action is critical! Rotate your SSH keys to ensure they are unique for each installation. Review your security policies and consider implementing additional authentication measures. Stay vigilant and audit your systems regularly! You've got this! By following these steps, you'll be on your way to securing your environment in no time. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02497 · 84.6th percentile
Weakness
CWE-321 · Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
Published
2021-11-04T15:35Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 04 NOV 15:35Z
    Cisco Policy Suite Static SSH Keys Vulnerability
    cvelistv5