AsyncosOperating system · Cisco
CVE-2024-20258
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedA vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager and Secure Email Gateway could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct an XSS attack against a user of the interface. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of an affected interface to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceCross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco AsyncOS web-based management interface for Secure Email and Web Manager and Secure Email Gateway. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious scripts via a crafted link that executes in the context of the victim's browser session.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data
AsyncosOperating system
< 15.0.2-034>= 15.5, < 15.5.1-055< 15.5.1-024CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify the AsyncOS product typeLog into the device CLI or check the web-based management interface header to confirm whether the device is running Secure Email Gateway or Secure Email and Web Manager. In CLI, use the `version` command which displays the product name and model.Affected if The device is running Cisco Secure Email Gateway or Secure Email and Web Manager (AsyncOS)
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Determine the installed AsyncOS versionRun the `version` command in the CLI or check the web interface System Upgrade page. Look for the full version string such as 15.0.2-034, 15.5.1-055, etc.Affected if The displayed version number is not applicable - this step is required to complete the next check
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Compare the version against affected rangesUsing the version number from the previous step, check if it falls into any of these ranges: (1) versions lower than 15.0.2-034, (2) versions 15.5.x lower than 15.5.1-055, (3) versions lower than 15.5.1-024. Note that 15.5.1-024 is also less than 15.5.1-055 so versions < 15.5.1-055 are affected for the 15.5 branch.Affected if Version is < 15.0.2-034, OR version is >= 15.5.0 and < 15.5.1-055, OR version is < 15.5.1-024
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Verify web-based management interface is accessibleAttempt to reach the management interface URL (typically https://[device IP]/email) from a browser. If the login page loads, the interface is enabled. In CLI, use `interfaceconfig` to check if the HTTP/HTTPS management interface is bound to an interface.Affected if The web-based management interface is reachable from network locations where attackers could send crafted links to administrators
A device is affected if it runs an affected AsyncOS version (15.0.x before 15.0.2-034, or 15.5.x before 15.5.1-055) on Secure Email Gateway or Secure Email and Web Manager AND the web-based management interface is network-accessible.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scoped15.0.2-03415.5.1-02415.5.1-055
Apply the relevant Cisco security patch for AsyncOS software. Until patched, exercise caution with links to the management interface and consider network-level access controls to limit exposure.
AsyncOS 15.0.2-034 (for 15.0.x branch) or AsyncOS 15.5.1-055 (for 15.5.x branch)
- 1. Identify the current AsyncOS version by navigating to the web-based management interface and checking the System Administration > Device Details page, or using the CLI command version
- 2. If running version 15.0.x and below 15.0.2-034, plan upgrade to version 15.0.2-034 or later
- 3. If running version 15.5.x and below 15.5.1-055, plan upgrade to version 15.5.1-055 or later
- 4. Schedule maintenance window as upgrade requires system restart
- 5. Backup current configuration before initiating upgrade
- 6. Download the appropriate AsyncOS upgrade image from Cisco (requires valid support contract)
- 7. Upload the upgrade file via the web interface (System Administration > Upgrade) or CLI (upgrade command)
- 8. Follow prompts to complete the upgrade and verify system comes up successfully
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
Fix this in Asyncos
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation3.0 h
- Implementation6.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $3,984.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2024-20258 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2024-20258 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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