CVE-2025-20123 in Crosswork Network Change Automation
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2025
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Crosswork Network Controller could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against users of the interface of an affected system.
These vulnerabilities exist because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by inserting malicious data into specific data fields in the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information. To exploit these vulnerabilities, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials. Cisco has released software updates that address these vulnerabilities. There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20123 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Crosswork Network Controller's web-based management interface. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The affected system operates with a web interface that handles administrative inputs from authorized users, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors can inject harmful scripts into designated data fields. The vulnerability specifically targets the interface's handling of user input, which allows attackers to bypass normal security controls through carefully crafted malicious payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with valid administrative credentials, establishing a baseline for the attack vector. The flaw manifests when legitimate administrative users interact with the web interface, as the system fails to validate or sanitize input data before rendering it within the browser context. This creates an environment where malicious script code can be executed within the victim's browser session, effectively allowing attackers to operate within the authenticated user's privileges. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications, where improper input validation enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access administrative functions, or perform unauthorized operations within the network controller's management interface. The implications are particularly severe given that the system requires only administrative authentication to exploit, meaning that compromised credentials could immediately enable full exploitation. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for scripting, specifically targeting web application interfaces where command execution occurs in the browser context.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through official software updates, which implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious data from being processed within the web interface. These updates typically include enhanced filtering mechanisms that strip or encode potentially dangerous input characters before they can be rendered in the browser. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches as there are no viable workarounds available to mitigate the vulnerability without applying the vendor-provided fixes. The lack of workaround options underscores the critical nature of this vulnerability and emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for network infrastructure components. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of these updates in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations and operational procedures.