OS command injection in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
A vulnerability in the Embedded Service Router (ESR) of Cisco ISE could allow an authenticated, local attacker to read, write, or delete arbitrary files on the underlying operating system and escalate their privileges to root. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have valid Administrator-level privileges on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper privilege management in the ESR console. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate their privileges to root and read, write, or delete arbitrary files from the underlying operating system of the affected device. Note: The ESR is not enabled by default and must be licensed. To verify the status of the ESR in the Admin GUI, choose Administration > Settings > Protocols > IPSec.
Why it matters now
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 Identity Services Engine Software | 2.6.0; 2.6.0 p1; 2.6.0 p2; 2.6.0 p3; 2.6.0 p5; 2.6.0 p6; 2.6.0 p7; 2.6.0 p8; 2.6.0 p9; 2.6.0 p10; 2.6.0 p11; 2.6.0 p12; 2.7.0; 2.7.0 p1; 2.7.0 p2; 2.7.0 p3; 2.7.0 p4; 2.7.0 p5; 2.7.0 p6; 2.7.0 p7; 2.7.0 p9; 3.0.0; 3.0.0 p1; 3.0.0 p2; 3.0.0 p3; 3.0.0 p4; 3.0.0 p5; 3.0.0 p6; 3.0.0 p7; 3.1.0; 3.1.0 p1; 3.1.0 p3; 3.1.0 p4; 3.1.0 p5; 3.1.0 p6; 3.1.0 p7; 3.2.0; 3.2.0 p1; 3.2.0 p2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Identity Services Engine Software VendorCisco Affected 2.6.0; 2.6.0 p1; 2.6.0 p2; 2.6.0 p3; 2.6.0 p5; 2.6.0 p6; 2.6.0 p7; 2.6.0 p8; 2.6.0 p9; 2.6.0 p10; 2.6.0 p11; 2.6.0 p12; 2.7.0; 2.7.0 p1; 2.7.0 p2; 2.7.0 p3; 2.7.0 p4; 2.7.0 p5; 2.7.0 p6; 2.7.0 p7; 2.7.0 p9; 3.0.0; 3.0.0 p1; 3.0.0 p2; 3.0.0 p3; 3.0.0 p4; 3.0.0 p5; 3.0.0 p6; 3.0.0 p7; 3.1.0; 3.1.0 p1; 3.1.0 p3; 3.1.0 p4; 3.1.0 p5; 3.1.0 p6; 3.1.0 p7; 3.2.0; 3.2.0 p1; 3.2.0 p2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-20193
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xh9q-385r-j657
References
Advisory 1
More Cisco Identity Services Engine vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-53488 Cisco Identity Services Engine Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14632 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14578 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2021-19919 Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14579 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2022-05522 OS command injection in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2023-20193 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-20193 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xh9q-385r-j657 · 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