CVE Alert: CVE-2025-20334 – Cisco – Cisco IOS XE Software
CVE-2025-20334
A vulnerability in the HTTP API subsystem of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow a remote attacker to inject commands that will execute with root privileges into the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker with administrative privileges could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected system and performing an API call with crafted input. Alternatively, an unauthenticated attacker could persuade a legitimate user with administrative privileges who is currently logged in to the system to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user.
AI Summary Analysis
Risk verdict
High risk: remote root command execution via the IOS XE HTTP API is possible, with sophisticated attacker goals, though public exploitation is not currently observed.
Why this matters
An attacker able to reach the HTTP API could inject commands with root privileges, threatening device control, network stability, and data integrity. The combination of network access and the need for administrative context or social engineering elevates potential impact across core infrastructure and WAN edges.
Most likely attack path
Remote network access to the HTTP API, followed by a low-complexity command-injection attempt. An attacker could exploit unauthenticated access or coerce an logged-in admin into performing a crafted API call or clicking a malicious link, enabling root-level code execution without elevated privileges.
Who is most exposed
Exposure is greatest where IOS XE devices are directly or tenuously exposed to untrusted networks (e.g., internet-connected management interfaces or poorly segmented data centres). Common in large enterprises with centralized or remote-site network gear and vendor-managed devices.
Detection ideas
- Unusual HTTP API calls containing crafted payloads that map to shell commands.
- Admin accounts performing anomalously privileged API operations or unexpected config changes.
- Phishing or social-engineered link clicks targeting network engineers.
- Sudden device reboots or abnormal root shell activity captured in logs.
- Correlated spikes in management-plane activity from a single source.
Mitigation and prioritisation
- Apply vendor patch/upgrade to a non-affected release per Cisco advisory; verify version compatibility.
- Restrict API access to trusted networks; enforce VPN/MxRBAC for management interfaces; disable unauthenticated access where possible.
- Enable strict logging, alert on admin-initiated, high-privilege API calls; centralise long-term audit trails.
- Apply network segmentation and least-privilege principles for management paths; enforce MFA for admin sessions.
- If immediate patching isn’t feasible, implement compensating controls and a rapid-change window to mitigate exposure.
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