CISA Urges Admins: Ditch Cisco’s Old Smart Install or Face the Cyber Wrath!
CISA urges admins to disable the legacy Cisco Smart Install feature, after recent cyberattacks exploited it. Attackers leveraged weak password types to compromise network devices, prompting a call for stronger password protection measures. Ensure passwords are hashed with NIST-approved Type 8 protection to safeguard sensitive data.
Hot Take:
In the grand tradition of leaving your doors unlocked and wondering why your house got ransacked, CISA’s recommendation to disable Cisco’s legacy Smart Install feature seems like a classic case of ‘better late than never’. Seriously, folks, if your switches are still running on this outdated protocol, you’re basically inviting cybercriminals in for tea and crumpets!
Key Points:
- CISA advises disabling legacy Cisco Smart Install (SMI) due to its abuse in recent cyber attacks.
- Threat actors have exploited SMI to steal sensitive data and alter system configurations.
- Legacy SMI has been targeted since at least 2018 by various hacking groups, including Russian-backed Dragonfly APT.
- CISA also recommends using NIST-approved Type 8 password protection for Cisco devices to prevent password cracking attacks.
- Admins should follow best practices for securing passwords, including using strong hashing algorithms and avoiding password reuse.
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