CVE-2022-20775
Path Traversal in Cisco Catalyst Sd-Wan Manager ≤ 20.6.3
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2022-20775 is a high-severity Path Traversal: '/../filedir' (CWE-25) vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst Sd-Wan Manager. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN Software stems from improper access controls on commands. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2022-20775, enables an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges on affected systems. The issue carries a CVSS score of 7.8 and is associated with CWE-25 and CWE-22.
An authenticated local attacker can exploit the weakness by submitting a maliciously crafted command through the application CLI. A successful attack grants the ability to run arbitrary commands as the root user, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Cisco has published software updates that remediate the vulnerability, and the vendor states that no workarounds are available. The primary advisory is available at the Cisco Security Advisory link referenced in the CVE record.
EPSS scores for this CVE rose from a low baseline to a recorded peak of 0.0104, indicating emerging exploitation interest after disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-26025
Vulnerability Data
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain elevated privileges. This vulnerability is due to improper access controls on commands within the application CLI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by…
more
running a maliciously crafted command on the application CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sd-wan-priv-E6e8tEdF
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 25 February 2026
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Validates pathnames and filenames to prevent traversal outside intended directories.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and path sanitization that prevent traversal flaws.
Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.
PR.AA-05 defines and reviews access policies but does not address code-level pathname neutralization, so neither direction prevents CWE-22.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure coding standards require canonicalization and neutralization of '../' sequences in path construction.
Security testing in development catches path-traversal flaws before production deployment.
Secure development lifecycle mandates input validation and path sanitization that directly prevents traversal sequences.
Application security requirements explicitly call for controls against path traversal and directory escape attacks.
Secure architecture principles reduce exposure to path traversal through least-privilege file-system design.
Information access restriction limits which directories users or processes may traverse.