CVE-2022-20798
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2022-20798 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting cisco email_security_appliance. It was published on June 15, 2022 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
A vulnerability in the external authentication functionality of Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, formerly known as Cisco Security Management Appliance (SMA), and Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and log in to the web management interface of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper authentication checks when an affected device uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) for external authentication. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by entering a specific input on the login page of the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access to the web-based management interface of the affected device.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from cisco. Update email_security_appliance to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| cisco | email_security_appliance | >= 14.0, < 14.0.1-033 | Affected |
| cisco | secure_email_and_web_manager | >= 13.0, < 13.0.0-277 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-20798?
CVE-2022-20798 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting cisco email_security_appliance. It was published on June 15, 2022 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2022-20798?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2022-20798?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from cisco. Update email_security_appliance to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2022-20798?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2022-20798 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
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