Cisco IOS XE up to 17.14.1a wncd memory allocation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Cisco IOS XE and classified as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component wncd. Performing a manipulation results in memory allocation. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-20140. Access to the local network is required for this attack. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco IOS XE. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component wncd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory allocation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-789. The product allocates memory based on an untrusted, large size value, but it does not ensure that the size is within expected limits, allowing arbitrary amounts of memory to be allocated. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

A vulnerability in the Wireless Network Control daemon (wncd) of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent wireless attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. This vulnerability is due to improper memory management. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a series of IPv6 network requests from an associated wireless IPv6 client to an affected device. To associate a client to a device, an attacker may first need to authenticate to the network, or associate freely in the case of a configured open network. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the wncd process to consume available memory and eventually cause the device to stop responding, resulting in a DoS condition.

The advisory is shared at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-20140 since 10/10/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be done within the local network. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/01/2025).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.8

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.4
CNA Vector (cisco): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory allocation
CWE: CWE-789 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

10/10/2024 🔍
05/07/2025 +209 days 🔍
05/07/2025 +0 days 🔍
08/01/2025 +86 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-wlc-wncd-p6Gvt6HL
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-20140 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-20140
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-307905
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150108

Entryinfo

Created: 05/07/2025 20:13
Updated: 08/01/2025 02:11
Changes: 05/07/2025 20:13 (65), 05/08/2025 10:52 (1), 08/01/2025 02:11 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

 Anonymous User (+0)
1 Year ago
Good morning, I couldn’t find this CPE in the NVD NIST CPE Dictionary. Instead, I see `cisco:ios_xe`. Could you kindly verify this? Thanks a lot.
 VulDB Community Team1 Year ago
Thank you, we have just aligned the CPE.

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