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CVE Record

CVE-2020-3442: DuoConnect SSH Connection Vulnerability

The DuoConnect client enables users to establish SSH connections to hosts protected by a DNG instance. When a user initiates an SSH connection to a DNG-protected host for the first time using DuoConnect, the user’s browser is opened to a login screen in order to complete authentication determined by the contents of the '-relay' argument. If the ‘-relay’ is set to a URL beginning with "http://", then the browser will initially attempt to load the URL over an insecure HTTP connection, before being immediately redirected to HTTPS (in addition to standard redirect mechanisms, the DNG uses HTTP Strict Transport Security headers to enforce this). After successfully authenticating to a DNG, DuoConnect stores an authentication token in a local system cache, so users do not have to complete this browser-based authentication workflow for every subsequent SSH connection. These tokens are valid for a configurable period of time, which defaults to 8 hours. If a user running DuoConnect already has a valid token, then instead of opening a web browser, DuoConnect directly contacts the DNG, again using the configured '-relay' value, and sends this token, as well as the intended SSH server hostname and port numbers. If the '-relay' argument begins with "http://", then this request will be sent over an insecure connection, and could be exposed to an attacker who is sniffing the traffic on the same network. The DNG authentication tokens that may be exposed during SSH relay may be used to gain network-level access to the servers and ports protected by that given relay host. The DNG provides network-level access only to the protected SSH servers. It does not interact with the independent SSH authentication and encryption. An attacker cannot use a stolen token on its own to authenticate against a DNG-protected SSH server.

MediumCVSS 4.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

DuoConnect could expose a cached Duo Network Gateway authentication token if the relay URL is configured with http://. A same-network attacker sniffing traffic might see that token. The token can provide network-level access to protected SSH destinations through that relay, but it does not replace separate SSH authentication.

Executive priority

Treat this as a configuration-sensitive medium-risk issue. It can expose access tokens on local networks, but it does not directly bypass SSH credentials. Prioritize verification where administrators, engineers, or vendors use DuoConnect from shared networks.

Technical view

This is a CWE-319 cleartext transmission issue in DuoConnect SSH relay handling. After browser authentication, DuoConnect caches a DNG token, valid by default for 8 hours. If a later SSH connection uses a -relay value beginning with http://, DuoConnect sends the token over insecure HTTP before SSH authentication occurs.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in environments using DuoConnect with Duo Network Gateway-protected SSH where client relay configuration starts with http://. Risk increases on shared, hostile, or untrusted networks while a valid cached DNG token exists.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires user interaction, a valid cached token, an HTTP relay configuration, and an attacker positioned to observe local network traffic. The stolen token alone does not authenticate to the SSH server.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are important: the vulnerable condition depends on http:// in the relay value and a valid cached token. The DNG token may provide network-level relay access only to protected SSH servers and ports; independent SSH authentication and encryption still apply.

Mitigation direction

  • Ensure DuoConnect -relay values use https://, not http://.
  • Review Duo's advisory for vendor-specific remediation guidance.
  • Inventory DuoConnect and DNG-protected SSH configurations.
  • Reduce exposure on shared networks until relay settings are verified.
  • Assess DNG token lifetime settings against operational need.

Validation and detection

  • Search managed DuoConnect configurations for relay URLs beginning with http://.
  • Confirm DNG-protected SSH workflows use HTTPS relay endpoints.
  • Identify users and systems running DuoConnect for SSH access.
  • Review DNG token lifetime configuration and defaults.
  • Check whether vendor guidance has been applied.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-319: Exact CWE lookup

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description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-3442 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
4.8CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N1.23.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.8Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-3442Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoDUO ConnectunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-319 · source CWE mapping

Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information

Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.