Product:
Cisco IOS XE Software
Summary
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root.
Details
| Severity | Base Score | CVE |
|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | 6 | CVE-2025-20338 |
Exploitation
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to the device CLI with valid administrative (level 15) credentials and using crafted commands at the CLI prompt. The low attack complexity means that an attacker with the necessary privileges can easily execute arbitrary commands, leading to potential system compromise.
Affected Products
- Cisco IOS XE Software: Affected by the CLI vulnerability allowing command execution as root.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended that users ensure only trusted individuals have administrative access to the device. Regularly review and update access controls and monitor for any unauthorized access attempts.