Cisco admits numerous network vulnerabilities
Cisco has put out an advisory notice after finding security flaws in its Network Building Mediator products.


Cisco has put out a warning about numerous vulnerabilities in its Network Building Mediator (NBM) products that could lead to malicious parties taking complete control over affected devices.
The NBM connects a building's operations with IT to help with a facility's sustainability, energy consumption and efficiency.
In an advisory note, Cisco explained that certain security gaps allow unauthorised users to change a device's configuration.
"A malicious user must authenticate as an existing user but does not need to have administrator privileges or know administrator credentials to modify device configuration," the company noted.
Other vulnerabilities mean that interactions between an operator workstation and the Cisco Network Building Mediator could be intercepted by any willing person.
"A malicious user able to intercept the sessions could learn any credentials used during intercepted sessions (for administrators and non-administrators alike) and could subsequently take full control of the device," Cisco explained.
Other threats include potential password theft and account data loss.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Specifically, all weaknesses affect the legacy Richards-Zeta Mediator 2500 product and Cisco Network Building Mediator NBM-2400 and NBM-4800 models as well as Mediator Framework software releases prior to 3.1.1.
The NBM is a version of the Richards-Zeta Mediator that has been adapted by Cisco.
Given that the "workarounds" offered by Cisco are somewhat limited, affected firms will want to get hold of the free software updates that the provider has issued to deal with the security holes.
Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.
He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?
In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
By Kate O'Flaherty Published
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25
News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
By Emma Woollacott Published
-
Cisco claims new smart switches provide next-level perimeter defense
News Cisco’s ‘security everywhere’ mantra has just taken on new meaning with the launch of a series of smart network switches.
By Solomon Klappholz Published
-
Cisco is jailbreaking AI models so you don’t have to worry about it
News Cisco's new AI Defense security solution helps organizations shore up LLM security by identifying potential flaws.
By Solomon Klappholz Published
-
Cisco dispels Kraken data breach claims, insists stolen data came from old attack
News Cisco has refuted claims it has suffered a data breach after the Kraken threat group posted stolen data online.
By Solomon Klappholz Published
-
Cisco patches critical flaws in Identity Services Engine
News Cisco has issued patches for a pair of critical vulnerabilities affecting its Identity Service Engine (ISE).
By Nicole Kobie Published
-
Your office is now absolutely riddled with surveillance equipment
News While workplace monitoring is shown to have a detrimental effect on morale, many firms are still charging ahead
By Nicole Kobie Published
-
Cisco confirms attackers stole data, shuts down access to compromised DevHub environment
News The tech giant insists that no sensitive customer information has been compromised
By Solomon Klappholz Published
-
Cisco confirms investigation amid data breach claims
News The networking giant says its probe is ongoing amid claims a threat actors accessed company data
By Nicole Kobie Published
-
Rubrik partners with Cisco to bolster cyber resilience
News Rubrik now integrates with Cisco XDR and is listed on the connectivity giant’s SolutionsPlus program
By Daniel Todd Published