CVE-2025-20164 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
A vulnerability in the Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switch Device Manager (DM) of Cisco IOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of authorizations for authenticated users. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to privilege level 15.
To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid credentials for a user account with privilege level 5 or higher. Read-only DM users are assigned privilege level 5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switch Device Manager component of IOS Software, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security model of industrial network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify user permissions when processing authenticated requests, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The Device Manager serves as a critical interface for network administration and configuration management, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in industrial environments where network security is paramount. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the authorization system to gain full administrative control over affected switches, potentially compromising entire industrial control networks.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on sending specifically crafted HTTP requests to the affected device, which demonstrates a classic web application vulnerability pattern where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate session permissions. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization validation process within the Device Manager, where legitimate users with privilege level 5 or higher can be manipulated to achieve privilege level 15 access. This represents a significant security gap in the principle of least privilege implementation, as the system fails to properly enforce access controls even for authenticated users. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only valid credentials rather than additional attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous for environments where credential theft or insider threats are concerns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over industrial network switches that may manage critical infrastructure components. Industrial Ethernet switches often serve as foundational elements in manufacturing, energy, and transportation systems where network availability and security are mission-critical. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify network configurations, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or disable network connectivity entirely, potentially causing significant operational disruption. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity of network operations, while potentially affecting availability through configuration manipulation. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where network administrators rely on the Device Manager for routine operations, as attackers could gain access to sensitive network configuration data and operational parameters.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment as provided by Cisco, while implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation to limit access to industrial switches. Organizations should enforce strict privilege management policies ensuring that only essential personnel maintain accounts with privilege level 5 or higher, and implement multi-factor authentication where possible. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify proper authorization enforcement mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and represents a typical ATT&CK technique for privilege escalation through web application exploitation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond simple patch management. The incident underscores the critical importance of validating authorization mechanisms in network management interfaces, particularly in industrial environments where the consequences of unauthorized access can be severe.