Denial of service in Cisco Snort 3 SMTP MIME decoder
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Multiple Cisco products, including Cisco Open Source Snort3, Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software and Cisco UTD SNORT IPS Engine Software, are affected by a flaw in the Snort 3 SMTP MIME decoder. The decoder lacks error checking when it parses the MIME fields of SMTP headers, which is tracked as CWE-805. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send crafted SMTP packets over an established connection to make the Snort 3 Detection Engine restart, causing a denial of service.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
Multiple Cisco products are affected by a vulnerability in the Snort 3 SMTP MIME Decoder that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the Snort 3 Detection Engine to restart. This vulnerability is due to a lack of error checking when the MIME fields of the SMTP header are parsed. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted SMTP packets through an established connection to be parsed by Snort 3. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition when the Snort 3 Detection Engine unexpectedly restarts.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Open Source Snort3 | 3.1.2.0; 3.1.3.0; 3.1.4.0; 3.1.5.0; 3.1.6.0; 3.1.7.0; 3.1.8.0; 3.1.9.0; 3.1.10.0; 3.1.12.0; 3.1.13.0; 3.1.14.0; 3.1.15.0; 3.1.16.0; 3.1.17.0; 3.1.18.0; 3.1.19.0; 3.1.20.0; 3.1.21.0; 3.1.22.0; 3.1.23.0; 3.1.24.0; 3.1.25.0; 3.1.27.0; 3.1.28.0; 3.1.29.0; 3.1.30.0; 3.1.31.0; 3.1.32.0; 3.1.36.0; 3.1.38.0; 3.1.39.0; 3.1.40.0; 3.1.41.0; 3.1.42.0; 3.1.43.0; 3.1.45.0; 3.1.47.0; 3.1.48.0; 3.1.50.0; 3.1.51.0; 3.1.52.0; 3.1.53.0; 3.1.55.0; 3.1.56.0; 3.1.57.0; 3.1.58.0; 3.1.59.0; 3.1.60.0; 3.1.61.0; 3.1.62.0; 3.1.63.0; 3.1.64.0; 3.1.65.0; 3.1.66.0; 3.1.67.0; 3.1.69.0; 3.1.70.0; 3.1.71.0; 3.1.72.0; 3.1.73.0; 3.1.74.0; 3.1.75.0; 3.1.76.0; 3.1.77.0; 3.1.78.0; 3.1.81.0; 3.1.82.0; 3.1.83.0; 3.1.84.0; 3.2.1.0; 3.2.2.0; 3.3.0.0; 3.3.1.0; 3.3.2.0; 3.3.3.0; 3.3.4.0; 3.3.5.0; 3.3.7.0; 3.5.0.0; 3.5.1.0; 3.8.1.0; 3.6.0.0; 3.6.2.0; 3.9.3.0; 3.7.2.0; 3.7.0.0; 3.9.6.0; 3.10.0.0; 3.7.4.0; 3.9.0.0; 3.5.2.0; 3.6.1.0; 3.9.2.0; 3.6.3.0; 3.9.5.0; 3.7.1.0; 3.9.7.0; 3.7.3.0; 3.9.1.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software | 7.0.0; 7.0.0.1; 7.0.1; 7.0.1.1; 7.0.2; 7.2.0; 7.0.2.1; 7.0.3; 7.2.0.1; 7.0.4; 7.2.1; 7.0.5; 7.3.0; 7.2.2; 7.2.3; 7.3.1; 7.2.4; 7.0.6; 7.2.5; 7.2.4.1; 7.3.1.1; 7.4.0; 7.0.6.1; 7.2.5.1; 7.4.1; 7.2.6; 7.0.6.2; 7.4.1.1; 7.2.7; 7.2.5.2; 7.3.1.2; 7.2.8; 7.6.0; 7.4.2; 7.2.8.1; 7.0.6.3; 7.4.2.1; 7.2.9; 7.0.7; 7.7.0; 7.4.2.2; 7.2.10; 7.6.1; 7.4.2.3; 7.0.8; 7.6.2; 7.7.10; 7.7.11; 7.0.8.1; 7.6.2.1; 7.7.10.1; 7.4.2.4; 7.2.10.2; 7.4.3; 7.6.4; 10.0.0; 7.4.4; 7.0.9; 7.2.11 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Cisco | Cisco UTD SNORT IPS Engine Software | 3.17.1S; 16.12.3; Fuji-16.9.5; 16.12.4; 17.3.1a; 16.6.6; 16.12.2; Fuji-16.9.6; 3.17.0S; Fuji-16.9.3; Denali-16.3.7; Fuji-16.9.2; Fuji-16.9.4; Everest-16.6.4; Everest-16.6.3; 16.6.5; Denali-16.3.5; 17.2.1r; 17.1.1; Everest-16.6.2; 16.6.7a; Denali-16.3.4; 16.6.1; Denali-16.3.9; Denali-16.3.3; 16.12.1a; 17.3.2; 17.4.1a; 16.12.5; Fuji-16.9.7; 16.6.9; 17.3.3; 17.5.1a; 17.3.4a; 17.4.2; 17.4.1b; 17.6.1a; 16.6.10; 17.7.1a; 16.12.6; Fuji-16.9.8; 17.6.2; 17.8.1a; 16.12.7; 17.3.5; 17.6.3a; 17.7.2; 17.9.1a; 17.6.4; 17.10.1a; 17.3.6; 16.12.8; 17.3.7; 17.9.2a; 17.6.5; 17.11.1a; 17.9.3a; 17.12.1a; 17.9.4; 17.6.6; 17.3.8; 17.12.2; 17.13.1a; 17.9.5a; 17.12.3; 17.6.7; 17.14.1a; 17.12.4; 17.12.3a; 17.15.1a; 17.9.6; 17.6.8a; 17.16.1a; 17.9.5e; 17.12.4a; 17.15.2c; 17.9.5f; 17.12.4b; 17.15.2a; 17.12.5; 17.17.1; 17.12.5a; 17.9.7a; 17.15.3a; 17.15.3; 17.12.5b; 17.12.5c; 17.15.4; 17.9.7b; 17.18.1; 17.18.1a; 17.12.6; 17.9.8; 17.15.4c; 17.12.5d; 17.18.2; 26.1.1; 17.15.5; 17.15.5a; 17.12.7; 17.12.7a; 17.12.7b; 17.9.9; 17.12.8; 17.15.6; 17.18.4; 26.1.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Open Source Snort3 VendorCisco Affected 3.1.2.0; 3.1.3.0; 3.1.4.0; 3.1.5.0; 3.1.6.0; 3.1.7.0; 3.1.8.0; 3.1.9.0; 3.1.10.0; 3.1.12.0; 3.1.13.0; 3.1.14.0; 3.1.15.0; 3.1.16.0; 3.1.17.0; 3.1.18.0; 3.1.19.0; 3.1.20.0; 3.1.21.0; 3.1.22.0; 3.1.23.0; 3.1.24.0; 3.1.25.0; 3.1.27.0; 3.1.28.0; 3.1.29.0; 3.1.30.0; 3.1.31.0; 3.1.32.0; 3.1.36.0; 3.1.38.0; 3.1.39.0; 3.1.40.0; 3.1.41.0; 3.1.42.0; 3.1.43.0; 3.1.45.0; 3.1.47.0; 3.1.48.0; 3.1.50.0; 3.1.51.0; 3.1.52.0; 3.1.53.0; 3.1.55.0; 3.1.56.0; 3.1.57.0; 3.1.58.0; 3.1.59.0; 3.1.60.0; 3.1.61.0; 3.1.62.0; 3.1.63.0; 3.1.64.0; 3.1.65.0; 3.1.66.0; 3.1.67.0; 3.1.69.0; 3.1.70.0; 3.1.71.0; 3.1.72.0; 3.1.73.0; 3.1.74.0; 3.1.75.0; 3.1.76.0; 3.1.77.0; 3.1.78.0; 3.1.81.0; 3.1.82.0; 3.1.83.0; 3.1.84.0; 3.2.1.0; 3.2.2.0; 3.3.0.0; 3.3.1.0; 3.3.2.0; 3.3.3.0; 3.3.4.0; 3.3.5.0; 3.3.7.0; 3.5.0.0; 3.5.1.0; 3.8.1.0; 3.6.0.0; 3.6.2.0; 3.9.3.0; 3.7.2.0; 3.7.0.0; 3.9.6.0; 3.10.0.0; 3.7.4.0; 3.9.0.0; 3.5.2.0; 3.6.1.0; 3.9.2.0; 3.6.3.0; 3.9.5.0; 3.7.1.0; 3.9.7.0; 3.7.3.0; 3.9.1.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software VendorCisco Affected 7.0.0; 7.0.0.1; 7.0.1; 7.0.1.1; 7.0.2; 7.2.0; 7.0.2.1; 7.0.3; 7.2.0.1; 7.0.4; 7.2.1; 7.0.5; 7.3.0; 7.2.2; 7.2.3; 7.3.1; 7.2.4; 7.0.6; 7.2.5; 7.2.4.1; 7.3.1.1; 7.4.0; 7.0.6.1; 7.2.5.1; 7.4.1; 7.2.6; 7.0.6.2; 7.4.1.1; 7.2.7; 7.2.5.2; 7.3.1.2; 7.2.8; 7.6.0; 7.4.2; 7.2.8.1; 7.0.6.3; 7.4.2.1; 7.2.9; 7.0.7; 7.7.0; 7.4.2.2; 7.2.10; 7.6.1; 7.4.2.3; 7.0.8; 7.6.2; 7.7.10; 7.7.11; 7.0.8.1; 7.6.2.1; 7.7.10.1; 7.4.2.4; 7.2.10.2; 7.4.3; 7.6.4; 10.0.0; 7.4.4; 7.0.9; 7.2.11 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Cisco UTD SNORT IPS Engine Software VendorCisco Affected 3.17.1S; 16.12.3; Fuji-16.9.5; 16.12.4; 17.3.1a; 16.6.6; 16.12.2; Fuji-16.9.6; 3.17.0S; Fuji-16.9.3; Denali-16.3.7; Fuji-16.9.2; Fuji-16.9.4; Everest-16.6.4; Everest-16.6.3; 16.6.5; Denali-16.3.5; 17.2.1r; 17.1.1; Everest-16.6.2; 16.6.7a; Denali-16.3.4; 16.6.1; Denali-16.3.9; Denali-16.3.3; 16.12.1a; 17.3.2; 17.4.1a; 16.12.5; Fuji-16.9.7; 16.6.9; 17.3.3; 17.5.1a; 17.3.4a; 17.4.2; 17.4.1b; 17.6.1a; 16.6.10; 17.7.1a; 16.12.6; Fuji-16.9.8; 17.6.2; 17.8.1a; 16.12.7; 17.3.5; 17.6.3a; 17.7.2; 17.9.1a; 17.6.4; 17.10.1a; 17.3.6; 16.12.8; 17.3.7; 17.9.2a; 17.6.5; 17.11.1a; 17.9.3a; 17.12.1a; 17.9.4; 17.6.6; 17.3.8; 17.12.2; 17.13.1a; 17.9.5a; 17.12.3; 17.6.7; 17.14.1a; 17.12.4; 17.12.3a; 17.15.1a; 17.9.6; 17.6.8a; 17.16.1a; 17.9.5e; 17.12.4a; 17.15.2c; 17.9.5f; 17.12.4b; 17.15.2a; 17.12.5; 17.17.1; 17.12.5a; 17.9.7a; 17.15.3a; 17.15.3; 17.12.5b; 17.12.5c; 17.15.4; 17.9.7b; 17.18.1; 17.18.1a; 17.12.6; 17.9.8; 17.15.4c; 17.12.5d; 17.18.2; 26.1.1; 17.15.5; 17.15.5a; 17.12.7; 17.12.7a; 17.12.7b; 17.9.9; 17.12.8; 17.15.6; 17.18.4; 26.1.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Cisco Open Source Snort3. The sources list no fixed version for Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software. The sources list no fixed version for Cisco UTD SNORT IPS Engine Software.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-20011
- 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-mj78-cj39-7cv9
- 2026-10-22 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-22 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
References
More Cisco vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-74174 Arbitrary file write in Cisco Secure Email Gateway via AMP feature KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-53490 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager System Account Authorization Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-53489 Cisco Secure Email Gateway SQL Injection Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-53488 Cisco Identity Services Engine Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-16388 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-16344 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-20011 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-20011 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mj78-cj39-7cv9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences