CVE-2025-20178 in Secure Network Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 04/16/2025
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Network Analytics could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with valid administrative credentials to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient integrity checks within device backup files. An attacker with valid administrative credentials could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious backup file and restoring it to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain shell access on the underlying operating system with the privileges of root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2025
This vulnerability exists within Cisco Secure Network Analytics web-based management interface and represents a critical command execution flaw that could enable remote attackers to gain root-level system access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate integrity verification mechanisms during the device backup restoration process, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands with the highest possible system permissions. The flaw specifically affects the backup file handling functionality where the system fails to properly validate the integrity of backup files before restoration, allowing maliciously crafted files to bypass normal security controls. This represents a significant bypass of the principle of least privilege, as legitimate administrative credentials can be leveraged to achieve system-level compromise rather than remaining confined to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of backup file integrity checks that are supposed to ensure the authenticity and safety of backup data before restoration. When an attacker crafts a malicious backup file and successfully restores it to an affected device, the system's insufficient validation mechanisms fail to detect the malicious content, allowing the attacker to inject arbitrary commands that execute with root privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE category of inadequate input validation and weak integrity checks, specifically CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity. The attack vector requires only valid administrative credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it exploits legitimate access privileges to achieve unauthorized system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the security model where trusted administrative access is not properly segmented from system-level command execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. An attacker with administrative credentials could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, modify system configurations, install backdoors, or extract sensitive network analytics data. The root-level access gained through this exploit could enable further lateral movement within the network environment, as the attacker would have unrestricted access to system resources and could potentially access other connected devices or systems. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations relying on Cisco Secure Network Analytics for network monitoring and threat detection, as compromising this system could provide attackers with visibility into network traffic patterns and potentially expose other network assets. The attack requires minimal sophistication beyond the ability to create and restore backup files, making it accessible to threat actors with moderate technical capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust backup file integrity verification mechanisms and restricting administrative access to the minimum necessary privileges. Organizations should deploy network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized backup file restoration activities. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security audits of backup procedures can help reduce the attack surface. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing automated backup validation checks and ensuring that backup files are stored securely with proper access controls. Security controls should align with nist cybersecurity framework recommendations for access control and integrity verification, particularly focusing on the protection of system configuration data and backup restoration processes. Regular security updates and patches should be applied promptly to address known vulnerabilities in network management interfaces and ensure that integrity checking mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques.