Improper privilege management in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Priority LOW 26CWE-268Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
A vulnerability in the ERS API of Cisco ISE could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to read arbitrary files on the underlying operating system of an affected device. 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 ERS API. 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 beyond the sphere of their intended access level, which would allow them to obtain sensitive information from the underlying operating system. Note: The ERS is not enabled by default. To verify the status of the ERS API in the Admin GUI, choose Administration > Settings > API Settings > API Service Settings.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00716 54th 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 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
CPE configurations NVD · 19
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.7 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch3 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch4 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch5 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch6 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 patch7 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.7 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch4 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch5 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch6 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.0.0:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 patch7 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Show 9 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch3 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch4 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch5 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch6 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1 patch7 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2 patch2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch4 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch5 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch6 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1 patch7 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2 patch2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-20194
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2mg3-562w-27qp
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-2023-20194 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-20194 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2mg3-562w-27qp · 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