A vulnerability in the RADIUS subsystem implementation of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands that are executed by the device. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper handling of user input during the authentication phase. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input when entering credentials that will be authenticated at the configured RADIUS server. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands at a high privilege level. Note: For this vulnerability to be exploited, Cisco Secure FMC Software must be configured for RADIUS authentication for the web-based management interface, SSH management, or both.
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as critical with a CVSS score of 10, indicating that it poses a significant risk to organizations using affected Cisco products. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access and execute arbitrary commands, leading to severe implications for the integrity and availability of the systems involved. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Given the exploitability of this vulnerability, immediate remediation is essential. Cisco has acknowledged the flaw, and while there is no current evidence of active exploitation in the wild, the potential for such activity exists, heightening the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software must ensure that they are using the latest versions that include necessary security patches. Failure to do so could result in significant security breaches.
In summary, the criticality of CVE-2025-20265 necessitates immediate attention from security teams to safeguard their systems and prevent unauthorized access.
Vulnerability Details
A vulnerability in the RADIUS subsystem implementation of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands that are executed by the device. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper handling of user input during the authentication phase. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input when entering credentials that will be authenticated at the configured RADIUS server.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 10, indicating critical severity. The affected product is the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, specifically versions 7.0.7 and 7.7.0. The vulnerability was published on August 14, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user input during the authentication phase, which allows attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands. The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, and the attack complexity is low, as no privileges are required, nor is user interaction necessary.
The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as successful exploitation can allow attackers to execute commands at a high privilege level, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized access and control over affected systems, leading to data breaches, service disruptions, and reputational damage. The blast radius is significant, given the nature of the vulnerability and its capacity to affect multiple systems relying on Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, as this vulnerability has been classified as critical. The potential for exploitation is high, and timely remediation is essential to mitigate risks.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center include version 7.0.7 and 7.7.0. Organizations should ensure they upgrade to the latest patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must immediately apply the necessary patches provided by Cisco. For detailed guidance on implementing effective security measures including penetration testing and configuration hardening, refer to official security resources.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual authentication requests and anomalous behavior in the management interface. Additionally, reviewing network traffic for signs of command injection attempts is critical.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in user input handling. Security teams should ensure rigorous testing and validation of all inputs to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
For further insights, organizations can refer to our penetration testing methodology and vulnerability management program design resources to enhance their security posture.
Regular reviews and updates to security practices are essential to combat evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)