# CVE-2018-0448: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication to view and modify system users in Cisco DNA Center.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 26 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9hgc-2mc5-jwf8

## What is CVE-2018-0448?

CVE-2018-0448 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center), published on 5 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the identity management service of Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and take complete control of identity management functions. The vulnerability is due to insufficient security restrictions for critical management functions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a valid identity management request to the affected system. An exploit could allow the attacker to view and make unauthorized modifications to existing system users as well as create new users.

Weakness: CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-0448?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-0448?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-0448 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-0448 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center)

- [CVE-2018-0222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0222/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-0268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0268/): Misconfiguration in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-15386](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15386/): Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center Unauthenticated Access Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-0271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0271/): Auth bypass in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-1848](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1848/): Cisco DNA Center Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-0448 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-0448 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center), published on 5 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0448/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0448/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0448
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0448
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-0448

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0448/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.