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Glossary Glossary

SNMP Vulnerability




An SNMP vulnerability is a weakness in the handling of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) requests that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to network devices, steal sensitive data, or launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

SNMP is a widely used protocol for monitoring and managing network devices like routers, switches, and servers. It allows network administrators to collect information about a device’s status, performance, and configuration. However, it can also be a potential source of security risks, as attackers can abuse it by sending SNMP requests to vulnerable network devices.

Table of Contents

SNMP Vulnerability: A Deep Dive

What Is an Example of an SNMP Vulnerability?

One of the most widely known SNMP security issues is CVE-2017-6742. This SNMP vulnerability is found in Cisco IOS and IOS XE software, allowing attackers to execute malicious code remotely or cause an affected system to reload.

This vulnerability is quite severe, with a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) rating of 8.8. However, Cisco has already released software updates to address it.

How Do Attackers Exploit an SNMP Vulnerability?

An attacker can exploit SNMP weaknesses in various ways, such as targeting weak community strings, unencrypted SNMP versions, and incorrect access control settings. We’ll talk more about each of the issues below.

  • Weak or default community strings: Community strings are used to authenticate SNMP requests. Attackers can discover them by scanning networks for SNMP devices and sending widely used community strings to see if they work. If attackers manage to guess the community string for a network device, they can send SNMP requests to control or steal data from it.
  • Outdated SNMP versions: Old versions of SNMP (i.e., SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c) do not support traffic encryption, which means attackers can capture and analyze SNMP packets to gain insights into a network, including its configuration and vulnerabilities. Attackers can use this information to launch further attacks, such as targeting specific devices or exploiting other vulnerabilities. Organizations are advised to upgrade to SNMPv3 since this version supports encryption.
  • Incorrect access control settings: SNMP agents and managers should be configured to restrict access to authorized users and devices only. However, some SNMP implementations may have incorrect access control permissions, which could allow unauthorized users to perform SNMP operations. Attackers can exploit incorrect access control permissions by sending SNMP requests from unauthorized devices or using unauthorized credentials.

How Can an SNMP Vulnerability Exploitation Impact an Organization?

Depending on the nature of the vulnerability and how it is exploited, an SNMP security issue may put organizations at risk of data theft, DoS attacks, and disruption to network operations.

SNMP vulnerabilities undoubtedly widen an organization’s attack surface, giving attackers potential entry points to affected systems and the entire network. The ultimate impact of this vulnerability could be financial loss, reputational damage, and even regulatory compliance violations.

How Do You Detect and Protect against SNMP Vulnerabilities?

Below are some ways to prevent SNMP vulnerabilities.

  • Upgrade to SNMPv3, the most secure SNMP version.
  • Change default community strings to strong and complex ones, especially if you’re still using older SNMP versions.
  • Use automated tools like ASM solutions and vulnerability scanners to scan your network for SNMP vulnerabilities. 
SNMP Vulnerability

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SNMP vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-6742 expose an organization to costly threats that may disrupt business operations. Constantly monitoring your systems for these vulnerabilities can help minimize risks.

Key Takeaways

  • SNMP vulnerabilities allow attackers to access network devices, steal sensitive data, or launch DoS attacks.
  • SNMP is a widely used protocol for monitoring and managing network devices.
  • Attackers can exploit SNMP vulnerabilities by sending SNMP requests from unauthorized devices or guessing weak or default community strings.
  • When exploited, these vulnerabilities can lead to data theft, DoS attacks, and disruptions to network operations.
  • CVE-2017-6742 is an example of an SNMP vulnerability in Cisco IOS and IOS XE that allows attackers to execute malicious code remotely or cause an affected system to reload.
  • To detect and protect against SNMP vulnerabilities, organizations should upgrade to SNMPv3, use strong community strings, and continuously scan their networks for SNMP vulnerabilities.

Wondering if your network has SNMP vulnerabilities or other security issues? Schedule a free demo tailored to your organization now.

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