Ethical Hacking News
Cisco Systems has announced a critical security patch for its IOS XE software, addressing a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to hijack devices. The patch fixes CVE-2025-20188, a maximum severity flaw with a CVSS score of 10.0, making it one of the most severe vulnerabilities to be addressed by Cisco in recent times.
Cisco Systems has released a critical security patch for its IOS XE software to address a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) vulnerability. The patch fixes CVE-2025-20188, a maximum severity flaw with a CVSS score of 10.0, making it one of the most severe vulnerabilities addressed by Cisco in recent times. The vulnerability was discovered due to the hard-coding of a JWT token in the 'Out-of-Band AP Image Download' feature of IOS XE software. Disabling the 'Out-of-Band AP Image Download' feature is a solid defense against the vulnerability, which allows unauthenticated remote attackers to hijack devices. The affected devices include Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controllers for Cloud, Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller for Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series Switches, and others. Cisco has released security updates to address the critical vulnerability and advises system administrators to apply these patches as soon as possible.
Cisco Systems has announced a critical security patch for its IOS XE software, addressing a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to hijack devices. The patch, released on May 8, 2025, fixes CVE-2025-20188, a maximum severity flaw with a CVSS score of 10.0, making it one of the most severe vulnerabilities to be addressed by Cisco in recent times.
The vulnerability was discovered due to the hard-coding of a JWT token in the 'Out-of-Band AP Image Download' feature of IOS XE software. This feature allows access points (APs) to download OS images via HTTPS rather than over the CAPWAP protocol, providing a more flexible and direct way to get firmware onto APs. However, this flexibility also introduced a significant security risk, as anyone could impersonate an authorized user without credentials.
"An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS requests to the AP image download interface," reads Cisco's bulletin. "A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload files, perform path traversal, and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges." It is noted that CVE-2025-20188 is only exploitable when the 'Out-of-Band AP Image Download' feature is enabled on the device, which isn't enabled by default.
The vulnerability affects several Cisco devices, including:
* Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controllers for Cloud
* Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller for Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series Switches
* Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers
* Embedded Wireless Controller on Catalyst APs
On the other hand, products confirmed not to be impacted by the hard-coded JWT issue are:
* Cisco IOS (non-XE)
* Cisco IOS XR
* Cisco Meraki products
* Cisco NX-OS
* Cisco AireOS-based WLCs
Cisco has released security updates to address the critical vulnerability. System administrators are advised to apply these patches as soon as possible to prevent exploitation.
While there are no mitigations or workarounds for CVE-2025-20188, disabling the 'Out-of-Band AP Image Download' feature is a solid defense. Cisco has not yet reported any active exploits of this vulnerability but acknowledges that threat actors are likely to start scanning for exposed vulnerable endpoints immediately.
The discovery of this critical IoT vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security patching and monitoring for devices connected to the internet. It also serves as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous features can introduce significant security risks if not implemented carefully.
In recent times, Cisco has faced numerous cybersecurity challenges, including ransomware attacks and high-profile data breaches. This latest vulnerability is another demonstration of the company's commitment to addressing emerging threats and ensuring the security of its customers' networks.
The incident also underscores the need for IT professionals to stay vigilant and proactive in their approach to IoT security. As more devices become connected to the internet, the risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-20188 increase exponentially.
In conclusion, Cisco's patch for the IOS XE vulnerability serves as a timely reminder of the importance of regular security updates and the need for IT professionals to remain vigilant in their approach to IoT security. By addressing this critical vulnerability, Cisco has demonstrated its commitment to protecting its customers' networks from emerging threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Cisco-Addresses-Critical-IoT-Vulnerability-in-IOS-XE-Software-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisco-fixes-max-severity-ios-xe-flaw-letting-attackers-hijack-devices/
https://securityaffairs.com/177609/security/cisco-fixed-a-critical-flaw-in-its-ios-xe-wireless-controller.html
Published: Thu May 8 17:18:49 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
