Cisco Security Advisory
Cisco Secure Email Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions Ciphertext Decryption Vulnerabilities
Click Icon to Copy Verbose Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:X/RL:X/RC:X
-
Multiple vulnerabilities in the Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) decryption functionality of Cisco Secure Email could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to recover plain text from encrypted email messages.
These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of message integrity. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by using a machine-in-the-middle technique to intercept and modify traffic between email gateways. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain plaintext content from the encrypted communication.
There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.
This advisory is available at the following link:
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-esa-smime-disc-dzw4rEdY
-
Vulnerable Products
At the time of publication, these vulnerabilities affected Cisco Secure Email devices if they were running Cisco AsyncOS Software Release 16.5.0 or earlier and had S/MIME configured for communication between email gateways.
See the Details section in the bug ID(s) at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information.
Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable
Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by these vulnerabilities.
-
There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.
-
Cisco considers any workarounds and mitigations (if applicable) to be temporary solutions until an upgrade to a fixed software release is available. To remediate these vulnerabilities and avoid future exposure as described in this advisory, Cisco strongly recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software indicated in this advisory.
Fixed Releases
For information about fixed software releases, see the Details section in the bug ID(s) at the top of this advisory.
-
The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is aware that a public announcement is available for the vulnerabilities that are described in this advisory.
The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any malicious use of the vulnerabilities that are described in this advisory.
-
Cisco would like to thank Matteo Scarlata, Andris Suter-Dörig, and Kenny Paterson, all of ETH Zurich, for reporting these vulnerabilities.
-
To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.
For additional information on Cisco's vulnerability management, disclosure cadence, and software patching strategy, see Cisco's Transition to a Risk-Based Vulnerability Disclosure Model.
-
Show LessVersion Description Section Status Date 1.1 Added researcher information. Source Final 2026-SEP-08 1.0 Initial public release. - Final 2026-SEP-02
-
SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information about licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool. Please note that customers may download only software that was procured from Cisco directly or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner and for which the license is still valid.
Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC). Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.
When considering software upgrades, customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for the relevant Cisco products to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution. In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER DETAILS
CISCO DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, CISCO DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE DOCUMENT OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE DOCUMENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME.
Copies or summaries of the information contained in this Security Advisory may lack important information or contain factual errors. Customers are advised to visit the Cisco Security Advisories page for the most recent version of this Security Advisory. The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) assesses only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory. See the Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy for more information.