CVE-2025-20205 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2025
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) guest portals could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against a user of the interface. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected system. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by injecting malicious code into specific pages of 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20205 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within Cisco Identity Services Engine's web-based management interface. This flaw resides in the insufficient validation mechanisms that govern user-supplied input processing, creating an avenue for malicious code injection attacks. The Cisco Identity Services Engine serves as a critical network access control solution that manages authentication, authorization, and accounting services across enterprise networks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on its security infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface component that administrators use to configure and manage the ISE platform, which means that any attacker with valid administrative credentials could potentially leverage this weakness to compromise the management interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges, which aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The insufficient input validation allows malicious payloads to be injected into specific interface pages where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web responses. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be triggered when legitimate users view affected pages containing the injected malicious code. The attack surface is limited to the web-based management interface, but the impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the management context. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to implement proper output encoding or content security policies that would prevent malicious scripts from executing in the browser context of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise network security infrastructure, particularly in environments where ISE serves as a central authentication and authorization server. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain the ability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the management interface, potentially allowing them to view sensitive configuration data, modify access policies, or even escalate privileges within the ISE environment. This weakness could facilitate broader attacks against the underlying network infrastructure, as the ISE platform typically controls access to network resources and manages user authentication. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious JavaScript code within the browser context of authenticated administrators. The attack could be particularly devastating in large enterprise environments where ISE manages thousands of network access policies and user accounts, as the compromised interface could provide attackers with extensive control over network access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the application of Cisco's security patches and updates to address the input validation deficiencies in the web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit administrative access to the ISE management interface to only essential personnel with legitimate business needs. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activity patterns in the ISE management interface, particularly around input fields that are susceptible to injection attacks. The implementation of content security policies and proper input sanitization measures would help prevent the execution of malicious scripts even if the underlying vulnerability cannot be immediately patched. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of the ISE management interface should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses and ensure that the security controls remain effective against evolving attack techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect critical management interfaces through multiple layers of security controls beyond simple authentication mechanisms.