Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker alter Redis data used by Cisco Policy Suite components for short-lived events. Cisco describes the likely business impact as reduced efficiency of the affected software, not full system takeover. Exposure matters most where the Redis service is reachable beyond trusted CPS components.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority exposure review for telecom or mobile policy infrastructure. Urgency rises if CPS Redis is reachable from outside trusted service networks. No active exploitation is evidenced in the provided sources.
Technical view
CVE-2018-0181 is CWE-306 improper authentication in the Redis implementation used by Cisco Policy Suite for Mobile and Cisco Policy Suite Diameter Routing Agent software. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.3, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Organizations running Cisco Policy Suite software may be exposed if the Redis server used by CPS is reachable by unauthenticated remote parties. The source bundle does not provide affected version ranges, CPEs, or deployment prerequisites.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The described exploitation outcome is modification of Redis key-value pairs for short-lived events, which could degrade CPS or Diameter Routing Agent efficiency.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Cisco/SecurityFocus references. The bundle names no affected version range or concrete fix details, so validation should start with Cisco’s advisory and local CPS deployment data.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco advisory for affected versions, fixed releases, and official mitigations.
- Prioritize systems where CPS Redis is reachable from untrusted networks.
- Restrict Redis access to trusted CPS components and management paths.
- Apply Cisco-recommended software updates or configuration changes when confirmed.
- Monitor CPS and Redis-related telemetry for unexpected key-value changes or efficiency degradation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco Policy Suite for Mobile and Diameter Routing Agent deployments.
- Confirm installed CPS versions against Cisco advisory guidance.
- Map network paths to the Redis service used by CPS.
- Verify unauthenticated Redis access is not possible from untrusted zones.
- Review operational logs for abnormal CPS efficiency or Redis data changes.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-306: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-0181 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L3.93.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20190109 Cisco Policy Suite for Mobile and Cisco Policy Suite Diameter Routing Agent Software Redis Server Unauthenticated Access VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
- 106547CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Missing Authentication for Critical Function represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.