CVE-2025-20332: Cisco ISE Authorization Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-20332 Overview

CVE-2025-20332 is an authorization vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE). An authenticated remote attacker holding read-only Administrator credentials can modify parts of the device configuration by submitting a crafted HTTP request. The flaw stems from missing server-side validation of Administrator permissions, classified as [CWE-863] Incorrect Authorization.

Successful exploitation lets the attacker modify descriptions of files on a specific page within the ISE interface. The impact is limited to integrity of that configuration data, and no confidentiality or availability impact is reported by the vendor.

Critical Impact
Read-only administrators can bypass role-based access controls and alter configuration data that should be restricted to privileged administrators.

Affected Products

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) web-based management interface
Refer to the Cisco Security Advisory for the specific fixed release versions
No third-party or downstream products listed in the NVD record

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-06 - CVE-2025-20332 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20332

Vulnerability Analysis

Cisco ISE enforces role-based access control (RBAC) to separate read-only administrators from those with full write privileges. CVE-2025-20332 breaks that boundary on a specific interface page. The server accepts and processes modification requests without re-checking whether the authenticated session carries the required Administrator write permission.

Because authorization is enforced only on the client side or at an earlier request stage, a read-only account can submit a crafted HTTP request that the backend then executes. The attacker changes file descriptions on the affected page, which are configuration elements that should be immutable from a read-only role.

The vulnerability is remotely reachable through the management interface but requires valid credentials. It does not permit remote code execution, credential theft, or service disruption based on Cisco's advisory.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing server-side authorization enforcement on a configuration modification endpoint. The application trusts the client context or session role assignment without validating that the acting user holds write permission for the operation being requested. This maps to [CWE-863] Incorrect Authorization.

Attack Vector

An attacker with read-only Administrator credentials authenticates to the ISE web-based management interface. The attacker then sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint that handles file description updates. The server processes the request as if it originated from a privileged administrator and commits the change.

Refer to the Cisco Security Advisory for endpoint specifics and fixed releases.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20332

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected changes to file descriptions on the affected ISE management page performed by accounts assigned the read-only Administrator role.
HTTP POST or PUT requests to configuration endpoints originating from sessions belonging to read-only admin accounts.
Audit log entries showing configuration modifications timestamped to sessions that should only have viewed data.

Detection Strategies

Correlate ISE administrative audit logs with the RBAC role of the acting account and alert when a read-only administrator triggers write operations.
Baseline normal HTTP request patterns per admin role and flag deviations, particularly modification verbs from read-only sessions.
Review ISE change history for edits to file descriptions that do not correspond to a documented change ticket.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Cisco ISE syslog and administrative audit events to a central logging or SIEM platform for role-aware analysis.
Enable detailed HTTP request logging on the ISE management interface where supported by the platform.
Periodically review the list of accounts assigned the read-only Administrator role and reduce membership to the minimum needed.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20332

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed Cisco ISE software release identified in the Cisco Security Advisory as soon as it can be scheduled.
Audit all accounts assigned the read-only Administrator role and remove any that are no longer required.
Restrict network access to the ISE web-based management interface to a dedicated management network or jump hosts.

Patch Information

Cisco has published fixed software for this issue. Consult the Cisco Security Advisory for the exact fixed release trains and upgrade guidance for your deployment.

Workarounds

No vendor-published workaround is documented; upgrading to a fixed release is the supported remediation.
As a compensating control, enforce multi-factor authentication on all ISE administrative accounts to reduce the risk of credential misuse.
Limit management interface reachability to trusted administrator subnets using access control lists on upstream network devices.

bash

# Example: restrict access to the ISE management interface at the network edge
# (adapt interface names and subnets to your environment)
ip access-list extended ISE_MGMT_ACL
 permit tcp 10.10.20.0 0.0.0.255 host 10.20.30.40 eq 443
 deny   tcp any host 10.20.30.40 eq 443 log
 permit ip any any

interface GigabitEthernet0/1
 ip access-group ISE_MGMT_ACL in