TI-2025-14488 Aliases CVE-2025-20188 GHSA-489q-h7v6-2626

Hard-coded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software

HIGH 82CWE-798Published 2025-05-07 · Updated 2025-06-06

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · High
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-798.

Summary

A vulnerability in the Out-of-Band Access Point (AP) Image Download, the Clean Air Spectral Recording, and the client debug bundles features of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected system. This vulnerability is due to the presence of a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS requests to the AP file upload interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload files, perform path traversal, and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.27911 98th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: Poc
Automatable: Yes
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	17.11.1; 17.12.1; 17.12.2; 17.12.3; 17.13.1; 17.14.1; 17.11.99SW	—	No fix listed	CNA

Cisco IOS XE Software VendorCisco Affected 17.11.1; 17.12.1; 17.12.2; 17.12.3; 17.13.1; 17.14.1; 17.11.99SW Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 7

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.1:::::::*	17.11.1	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.99sw:::::::*	17.11.99sw	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.1:::::::*	17.12.1	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.2:::::::*	17.12.2	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.3:::::::*	17.12.3	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.13.1:::::::*	17.13.1	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.14.1:::::::*	17.14.1	Vulnerable	Cisco

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.11.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.99sw:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.11.99sw Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.12.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.12.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.12.3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.13.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.14.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-20188
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-489q-h7v6-2626

References

Exploit 1

https://horizon3.ai/attack-research/attack-blogs/cisco-ios-xe-wlc-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability-cve-2025-20188-analysis/

Advisory 1

cisco-sa-wlc-file-uplpd-rHZG9UfC

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

See all 561 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences