CVE-2023-20174 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE • 05/18/2023
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to read arbitrary files or conduct a server-side request forgery (SSRF) attack through an affected device. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker must have valid Administrator credentials on the affected device. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) represents a critical component in enterprise network security infrastructure, providing identity management and access control services for organizations worldwide. This web-based management interface serves as the primary administrative portal for configuring and monitoring the ISE platform, making it a prime target for sophisticated attackers seeking to compromise enterprise security postures. The vulnerabilities identified in CVE-2023-20174 specifically affect the web interface components that handle file operations and external service requests, creating multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged by authenticated adversaries with administrative privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the ISE management interface. Attackers with valid administrator credentials can exploit these weaknesses to perform arbitrary file reads, potentially accessing sensitive configuration files, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored on the system. Additionally, the server-side request forgery vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior to make unauthorized requests to internal or external systems, bypassing normal network security controls. These vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-22 for path traversal and CWE-918 for server-side request forgery, both of which are well-documented weaknesses in web application security frameworks. The attack vectors align with ATT&CK techniques such as T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing via email, as attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to escalate privileges and move laterally within compromised networks.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple data theft, as they provide attackers with significant capabilities to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise networks. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the ISE platform, allowing attackers to modify access policies, disable security controls, or establish persistent backdoors within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they require only administrative credentials, which are often more accessible than system-level privileges in many organizations. This scenario creates a realistic threat model where attackers who have obtained administrative credentials through social engineering, credential theft, or other means can immediately leverage these vulnerabilities to maximize their impact. Organizations with extensive ISE deployments face significant risk as these vulnerabilities could potentially affect thousands of network access points and user authentication services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate credential security measures and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Organizations must ensure that administrative credentials are properly protected through multi-factor authentication, regular credential rotation, and strict access control policies. Network segmentation should isolate ISE management interfaces from general network traffic, and implementing web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The affected Cisco ISE versions should be updated to the latest patches provided by Cisco, which address the specific input validation and access control issues. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and outbound requests that may indicate exploitation attempts, with particular attention to the specific attack signatures associated with these vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, following the principle of least privilege and defense in depth as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53.