CVE-2025-20131 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
A vulnerability in the GUI of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative privileges to upload files to an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to improper validation of the file copy function. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted file upload via the ISE GUI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20131 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) GUI functionality that could enable authenticated remote code execution through unauthorized file uploads. This vulnerability specifically targets the file copy function implementation within the ISE management interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and compromise the affected system. The vulnerability resides in the insufficient input validation mechanisms that govern file upload operations, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target device.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the GUI-based file upload functionality where an attacker with administrative credentials can craft malicious file upload requests that circumvent the normal validation checks. This weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of file paths and content during the copy operation process, creating a direct attack surface that allows for arbitrary file placement within the system filesystem. The flaw essentially permits an authenticated user to upload files to locations where they could be executed or leveraged for further compromise. This issue aligns with CWE-22 which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal vulnerabilities, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation that enables privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file upload capabilities as it provides a potential foothold for attackers to establish persistent access to the ISE infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they could upload malicious executables, scripts, or configuration files that could be executed with the privileges of the ISE service account. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of network authentication services that rely on the ISE platform for identity management. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative privileges, which are typically limited to authorized personnel, making the exploitation more likely to succeed in environments where administrative accounts are compromised. This vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain to compromise the entire network infrastructure that depends on ISE for authentication and authorization services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-20131 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cisco to address the underlying validation flaws in the GUI file copy functionality. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to ISE management interfaces and restrict administrative privileges to only essential personnel. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual file upload activities within the ISE environment, implementing strict access controls for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security audits of the ISE configuration. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and execution through valid accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous file upload patterns and automatically alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched solution to ensure that the file validation mechanisms function correctly without disrupting legitimate administrative operations.