CVE-2025-20332 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2025
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco ISE could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to modify parts of the configuration on an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to the lack of server-side validation of Administrator permissions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted HTTP request to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to modify descriptions of files on a specific page. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need valid read-only Administrator credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20332 represents a critical authorization flaw within Cisco Identity Services Engine's web-based management interface. This issue stems from insufficient server-side validation mechanisms that should verify administrator permissions before allowing configuration modifications. The weakness exists specifically in how the system handles privilege validation during HTTP request processing, creating a pathway for unauthorized configuration changes despite the attacker possessing only read-only administrative credentials. The vulnerability directly impacts Cisco Identity Services Engine deployments where the web interface is accessible and configured, potentially affecting organizations relying on this platform for network access control and identity management services.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with read-only administrator privileges to submit a specially crafted HTTP request to the affected system. This request would target specific pages within the web interface where file descriptions can be modified, bypassing the normal permission checks that should prevent such actions. The lack of proper server-side validation means that the system accepts modification requests without verifying whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary write permissions for the targeted configuration elements. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that falls under CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization in software systems. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and privilege enforcement mechanisms that should be implemented at the server level to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modifications, as it could potentially allow attackers to manipulate network access policies, modify user authentication settings, or alter system parameters that control network security. Organizations using Cisco ISE for critical network access control may find their security posture significantly weakened if this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers could modify access control lists, change authentication methods, or disable security features. The fact that only read-only credentials are required to exploit this issue makes it particularly concerning, as it suggests that even users with limited privileges could escalate their access through this authorization bypass. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials and valid accounts for privilege escalation, and T1566.001 for the initial access through web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-20332 should prioritize immediate implementation of Cisco's security advisory patches and updates. Organizations should also implement additional network segmentation measures to limit access to the Cisco ISE web interface, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach the management interface. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative access to the minimum necessary permissions, and implementing multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual modification patterns in configuration files, and regular security audits should be conducted to verify that no unauthorized changes have occurred. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter and validate HTTP requests before they reach the vulnerable interface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of server-side validation and proper authorization checks, which should be incorporated into all web application security architectures to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.