CASCACascade Atlas

Evidence dossier

CVE-2024-20439

A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential.

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV since Mar 31, 2025). NVD reports CVSS 3.1 9.8. EPSS estimates 92.1% exploit likelihood as of Aug 26, 2026.

86.3–90.5Priority evidence range
Evidence current through Aug 27, 2026, 6:09 PM UTC

As of Aug 27, 2026

Normalized restatement

A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential. This vulnerability is due to an undocumented static user credential for an administrative account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the static credentials to login to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to login to the affected system with administrative rights over the CSLU application API.

State
PUBLISHED
Published
Sep 4, 2024
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Evidence coverage
88%

Evidence chronology

What was known when

Download this view's receipt →
  1. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA-ADP

    Record text: CISA ADP Vulnrichment

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    CISA ADP Vulnrichment
    Original evidence ↗
  2. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    cisco

    Record text: A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential. This vulnerability is due to an undocumented static user credential for an administrative account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the static credentials to login to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to login to the affected system with administrative rights over the CSLU application API.

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential. This vulnerability is due to an undocumented static user credential for an administrative account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the static credentials to login to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to login to the affected system with administrative rights over the CSLU application API.
    Original evidence ↗
  3. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA KEV

    Exploitation cataloged: Cisco Smart Licensing Utility Static Credential Vulnerability

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    observed_exploitation
    Value
    Cisco Smart Licensing Utility Static Credential Vulnerability
    Original evidence ↗
  4. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    FIRST EPSS

    EPSS score: 92.06% probability · 99.81th percentile

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    model_probability
    Value
    Probability 0.920620000000; percentile 0.998120000000
    Original evidence ↗
ExploitationCatalog member

CISA KEV · catalog date Mar 31, 2025 · first observed Jul 19, 2026

Exploit likelihood92.06%

FIRST EPSS · score date Aug 26, 2026 · 99.8th percentile · first observed Aug 26, 2026

SeverityCVSS 9.8

NVD · CVSS 3.1 · first observed Jul 19, 2026 · same-version scores align in this snapshot

Evidence detail

Source limits and decisions

Why each evidence state has this value

casca-unknown-reasons-v1
Exploitation statusEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Exploit likelihoodEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Severity assessmentEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Affected productsSource-reported scope

The cited source assertion is retained while canonical product linkage remains open.

Revision
casca-factor-d-obligations-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
Resolve identity

Source comparison

Who said what

CISA-ADPIndependent enrichment
Record text

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
CISA ADP Vulnrichment
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
ciscoOriginal assertion
Record text

A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential. This vulnerability is due to an undocumented static user credential for an administrative account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the static credentials to login to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to login to the affected system with administrative rights over the CSLU application API.

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log into an affected system by using a static administrative credential. This vulnerability is due to an undocumented static user credential for an administrative account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the static credentials to login to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to login to the affected system with administrative rights over the CSLU application API.
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CISA KEVOriginal assertion
Exploitation cataloged

Cisco Smart Licensing Utility Static Credential Vulnerability

Inspect raw assertion
Field
observed_exploitation
Value
Cisco Smart Licensing Utility Static Credential Vulnerability
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
FIRST EPSSOriginal assertion
EPSS score

92.06% probability · 99.81th percentile

Inspect raw assertion
Field
model_probability
Value
Probability 0.920620000000; percentile 0.998120000000
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗

Applicability

Cited product scope

Trace impact →
1Underlying assertions
1Canonical products
1Target assertions
0Constraint assertions

Grouped from 1 configuration nodes in this exact snapshot. Visual grouping is navigational; asset exposure and root cause require cited evidence.

Identity source boundaries
  • Cpe dictionary1,775,266 records · observed through 2026-07-21T06:45:29.809Z27d65b0f-b718-4b4f-bb79-c47c68d09dfa
  • Cpe match643,502 records · observed through 2026-07-21T08:13:17.697Z955dae73-7302-438b-aee1-058d7cc5d48e

5 scope groups

CISA-ADP · source assertedciscocisco_smart_license_utilityDirect source scope
Affected: 2.1.0Affected: 2.0.0Affected: 2.2.0
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "2.1.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.0.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.2.0"}]
CISA-ADP · source assertedciscocisco_smart_license_utilityDirect source scope
Affected: 2.1.0Affected: 2.0.0Affected: 2.2.0
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "2.1.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.0.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.2.0"}]
CISA-ADP · source assertedciscocisco_smart_license_utilityDirect source scope
Affected: 2.1.0Affected: 2.0.0Affected: 2.2.0
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "2.1.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.0.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.2.0"}]
cisco · source assertedCiscoCisco Smart License UtilityDirect source scope
Affected: 2.1.0Affected: 2.0.0Affected: 2.2.0
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "affected", "version": "2.1.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.0.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "2.2.0"}]
NVD CPE · APPLICATIONciscosmart_license_utilityVulnerable target · 1 assertions
Any version (unconstrained) (>= 2.0.0, < 2.3.0)Canonical identity product-83413d134ffee3bbc112ef1fe1be5cdae31c0d87544a32dac734da30dc2d9eadLinked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertion
  1. cpe:2.3:a:cisco:smart_license_utility:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 0
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    from including 2.0.0; through excluding 2.3.0
    Match ID
    cdfa4bec-53fd-4a9c-9c78-4663f1b7528e

Affected-product evidence

Accepted scope and product mapping

1 canonical links · 1 source-reported links

Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-0774b265c0e837e737aaf99ed0f2450c048e61f34267ca59d8623878b839334e · product-83413d134ffee3bbc112ef1fe1be5cdae31c0d87544a32dac734da30dc2d9ead

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
1
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
91943b86-4525-494f-95a6-be776d4d2c86
Source-reported scopeSource-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Vendor specified only by source · Product specified only by source

Source class
Direct cve affected
Assertions
4
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
2bbc1d97-f239-446a-b68e-a33c7bf771533532f01c-b79d-483b-a690-1eb6f27bfd81cba0a162-5163-4285-a414-7087a2ff33eff8e666a0-664d-46e4-8e35-5b17645ec919

Assessments

CVSS by origin

9.8
NVDCVSS 3.1 · role Primary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8
psirt@cisco.comCVSS 3.1 · role Secondary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8
ciscoCVSS 3.1 · role unknown · display onlyDirect record assessment retained outside normalized eligibilityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Direct CVE/CNA normalized decisions

9.8Priority eligible

cisco

CVSS 3.1 · Primary · Original assertion · rank 1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Validation
Valid match
Recomputed
9.8
Decision reason
Evidence supported
Policy
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1

Assessments are retained side by side under closed precedence. Cascade never averages CVSS.

Evidence boundaries

  • KEV membership is authoritative for the catalog, not proof of exposure in any environment.
  • EPSS is a dated model probability and not an individual-environment prediction.
  • Affected or fixed status applies only to the exact cited product and version scope; remaining scope stays source-scoped.
  • NVD-carried upstream facts remain derivative; independent corroboration requires a separately authored source.
  • Only NVD metrics validated under the generation-bound calculator are Public Priority eligible; direct CVE record metrics remain display-only.
  • NVD CVSS source eligibility is closed: NVD-authored, exact record-source, or registered same-CVE container origin; unmapped sources remain display-only.
  • Core replay supports the active and immediately prior generation; retrospective valid-at replay is deferred.
  • OSV aggregation and OSV-converted NVD material are not independent corroboration.
  • Red Hat facts are vendor assertions for the exact supplied products.
  • Nonmembership and not-yet-observed states are not proof of safety.