CVE-2025-20124 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2025
A vulnerability in an API of Cisco ISE could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user on an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of user-supplied Java byte streams by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object to an affected API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges. Note: To successfully exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid read-only administrative credentials. In a single-node deployment, new devices will not be able to authenticate during the reload time.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) software that enables authenticated remote code execution with root privileges. The issue stems from insecure deserialization practices within the affected API component, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate serialized Java objects and execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The vulnerability specifically targets the deserialization process that handles user-supplied Java byte streams, which is a well-documented weakness that has been exploited in numerous high-profile security incidents across the industry. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-502 which details insecure deserialization vulnerabilities that can lead to remote code execution and privilege escalation.
The attack vector requires an authenticated attacker with read-only administrative credentials, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated exploits but still represents a serious threat to network security infrastructure. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious serialized Java objects that are then processed by the vulnerable API endpoint. When the system attempts to deserialize these objects, the malicious payload executes with the privileges of the affected service, which in this case escalates to root access. This privilege escalation capability is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to gain full control over the device and potentially use it as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core identity and access management functionality of Cisco ISE, which typically serves as a critical component in enterprise network security architectures.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple command execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the affected network infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive authentication data, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for lateral movement throughout the network. The vulnerability's presence in Cisco ISE means that organizations relying on this platform for network access control and identity management face a significant risk to their security posture. The fact that new devices cannot authenticate during reload time in single-node deployments creates additional operational challenges, as it could be exploited to disrupt service availability or create denial-of-service conditions while the system is in a vulnerable state. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1548 which addresses abuse of privilege escalation techniques.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the underlying deserialization vulnerability in the affected API. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual API activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls should be strictly enforced to limit the number of users with administrative credentials, and privileged access should be monitored through comprehensive audit logging. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in enterprise software, particularly in security-critical applications where authentication and authorization are paramount. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application firewalls and runtime protection mechanisms to detect and prevent deserialization attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited by threat actors in the wild.