Cisco IOS XE Software for Embedded Wireless Controllers on Catalyst Access Points Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Priority LOW 36CWE-266Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation, Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-266 and CWE-78.
Summary
A vulnerability in the self-healing functionality of Cisco IOS XE Software for Embedded Wireless Controllers on Catalyst Access Points could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape the restricted controller shell and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of the access point. This vulnerability is due to improper checks throughout the restart of certain system processes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging on to an affected device and executing certain CLI commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying OS as root. To successfully exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need valid credentials for a privilege level 15 user of the wireless controller.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00362 30th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco IOS XE Software | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco IOS XE Software VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 30
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.6.1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105axw:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.6.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9105axw:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9115axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Show 20 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axp:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124axd:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-40:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-80:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-cl:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l-c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l-f:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9117axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9120axp:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124axd:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9124axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130_ap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130axe:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9130axi:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-40:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-80:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-cl:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l-c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_9800-l-f:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-20855
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mxx7-xwrv-x9hr
References
More Cisco Ios Xe vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-06904 Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2018-00122 Memory corruption in Cisco IOS and IOS XE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2017-02977 Improper input validation in Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-00135 Memory corruption in Cisco IOS, IOS XE, and IOS XR KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2017-04498 Memory corruption in Cisco IOS KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2017-04497 Memory corruption in Cisco IOS XE Software KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2022-20855 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-20855 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mxx7-xwrv-x9hr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences