What CISA’s New Vulnerability Warning Means for SMB Security

Why This News Is a Wake-Up Call for Business Leaders

Imagine waking up to find out that a key part of your IT infrastructure is now an open door for hackers—and it’s not just theoretical; attacks are happening in the wild, right now. That’s what happened when the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added critical flaws in Erlang/Open Telecom Platform (OTP) SSH and Roundcube webmail to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), this news isn’t just for big enterprises or government agencies—it’s a real risk to your data, operations, and reputation.

What’s Actually Happening?

Erlang/OTP SSH (CVE-2025-32433)—Rated the maximum 10.0/10 on the CVSS threat scale, this vulnerability lets attackers skip authentication entirely. That’s like leaving your server room door wide open. If your business uses any software built on Erlang (common in telecoms, developer tools, and scalable backend services), you could be exposed.
Roundcube Email (CVE-2025-29363)—With Roundcube being one of the world’s most popular webmail clients for self-hosted email, this flaw could let hackers remotely break into user accounts or gain control of your company email.

Both flaws are under active attack, meaning criminals are exploiting businesses right now—not just in theory (Source: TheHackerNews, 2025).

Why Should SMBs Pay Attention?

It’s a mistake to believe that only large companies are targets. According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach report, over half of breaches now hit businesses with fewer than 100 employees—often because SMBs lack dedicated security teams (IBM, 2023). These new vulnerabilities give attackers a shortcut into your systems, making automated mass attacks far more likely to succeed.

Key Takeaways: What Can SMBs Do in the Next 30 Days?

Inventory and Audit: Quickly check whether your organization uses Erlang-based applications or manages email on Roundcube servers. Don’t assume—you’d be surprised where these tools pop up.
Patch Immediately: If you’re affected, apply security updates released by Erlang/OTP and Roundcube projects without delay. Cybercriminals move fast; patching protects you.
Isolation and Access Controls: Wherever possible, segment critical applications so vulnerabilities in one tool can’t provide a path to the rest of your network. Restrict who has SSH and webmail access—least privilege is your friend.
Monitor for Unusual Activity: Set up alerts for suspicious login attempts or strange account behavior. Detecting early signs of compromise can halt an attack before it spreads.
Review Service Providers: If you use third-party IT or email hosting, ask them directly if they’re affected and confirm patch timelines. Don’t just trust—verify.

Worried about keeping up with constant security changes? Book a free 15-minute security consult to see how BoltWork can help secure, simplify, and reduce your IT costs.

The Bigger Picture: Secure, Simplify, Reduce Costs

Your time shouldn’t be spent tracking cyber threats or deciphering complex vulnerability reports. BoltWork’s managed IT security solutions automate patching, routinely scan your environment, and offer predictable monthly costs—meaning you’re protected without hiring a full-time IT team or chasing the latest news yourself.

Is Your Business at Risk?

The addition of Erlang SSH and Roundcube flaws to CISA’s KEV catalog is proof: attackers actively target everyday business tools. If you don’t have eyes on your software inventory and patch status, you’re at risk—and the costs of a breach far exceed prevention. SMBs hit by cyberattacks pay on average $4.45 million in breach-related costs (IBM, 2023). Simple, proactive cyber hygiene now prevents costly cleanup later.

Ready to automate your cyber protection? Book your 15-minute security consult now.

References

TheHackerNews. (2025). CISA Adds Erlang SSH and Roundcube Flaws to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
IBM. (2023). Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023.