CVE-2025-20393
CVE-2025-20393 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Cisco Asyncos with a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.0. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2025-12-17). The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 10.0)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 29% (98th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2025-12-17)
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-203911
- EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2025-12-17)
- Weakness: CWE-20
- Affected product: Cisco Asyncos
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
A vulnerability in the Spam Quarantine feature of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary system commands on an affected device with root privileges. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of HTTP requests by the Spam Quarantine feature. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-20393?
- A vulnerability in the Spam Quarantine feature of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary system commands on an affected device with root privileges. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of HTTP requests by the Spam Quarantine feature. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges.
- How severe is CVE-2025-20393?
- CVE-2025-20393 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2025-20393 being actively exploited?
- Yes. CVE-2025-20393 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2025-12-17, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-20393?
- CVE-2025-20393 affects Cisco Asyncos. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-20393?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
- Does CVE-2025-20393 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-20393 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-203911. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2025-12-17).
- When was CVE-2025-20393 published?
- CVE-2025-20393 was published on 2025-12-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sma-attack-N9bf4
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20393
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:asyncos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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