Vulnerability · CVE-2025-20188
Cisco ios_xe Use of Hard-coded Credentials
Published Jun 10, 2025 · corrected/updated Jun 10, 2025 · Cisco ios_xe · evidence confidence very high
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,
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2025-20188 is a unknown public vulnerability record for Cisco ios_xe. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether Cisco ios_xe is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Cisco ios_xe. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: no CVSS/EPSS yet. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, vulncheck_kev. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Jun 10, 2025. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.
Patch and remediation
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Technology hubs
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Jun 10, 2025 · VulnCheck KEV
Detected
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.
Jun 10, 2025 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Affected
- vendor Cisco ios_xeversion unspecified
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2025-20188
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-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 a
vulncheck.com