CVE-2025-20188: ios xe Hardcoded Credentials

Description

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

10.0

CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-798 CWE-798

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All
cisco	ios_xe	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-wlc-file-uplpd-rHZG9UfC

Exploits

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-20188? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2025-20188? +

CVE-2025-20188 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 10.0 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-20188? +

CVE-2025-20188 affects products from cisco, specifically: ios_xe. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-20188? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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