CVE-2022-20846: Cisco IOS XR Software Cisco Discovery Protocol Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the Cisco Discovery Protocol implementation for Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause the Cisco Discovery Protocol process to reload on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to a heap buffer overflow in certain Cisco Discovery Protocol messages. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious Cisco Discovery Protocol packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a heap overflow, which could cause the Cisco Discovery Protocol process to reload on the device. The bytes that can be written in the buffer overflow are restricted, which limits remote code execution.Note: Cisco Discovery Protocol is a Layer 2 protocol. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must be in the same broadcast domain as the affected device (Layer 2 adjacent). Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.This advisory is part of the September 2022 release of the Cisco IOS XR Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see .
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2022-20846?
CVE-2022-20846 has a high severity rating due to its potential for causing a denial of service through device reloads.
How do I fix CVE-2022-20846?
To fix CVE-2022-20846, update your Cisco IOS XR Software to the latest patched version provided by Cisco.
Who is affected by CVE-2022-20846?
CVE-2022-20846 affects devices running Cisco IOS XR Software that utilize the Cisco Discovery Protocol.
What are the potential consequences of CVE-2022-20846?
The potential consequences of CVE-2022-20846 include unauthorized access leading to device instability and service disruption.
Is CVE-2022-20846 remotely exploitable?
Yes, CVE-2022-20846 is exploitable by unauthenticated, adjacent attackers targeting affected Cisco devices.