SecuriTricks - CVE-2025-20160

Description

A vulnerability in the implementation of the TACACS+ protocol in Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive data or bypass authentication. This vulnerability exists because the system does not properly check whether the required TACACS+ shared secret is configured. A machine-in-the-middle attacker could exploit this vulnerability by intercepting and reading unencrypted TACACS+ messages or impersonating the TACACS+ server and falsely accepting arbitrary authentication requests. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in a TACACS+ message or bypass authentication and gain access to the affected device.

Product(s) Impacted

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cisco	Ios Ios Xe	* *

Weaknesses

Common security weaknesses mapped to this vulnerability.

CWE-287

Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

*CPE(s)

Affected systems and software identified for this CVE.

Type	Vendor	Product	Version	Update	Edition	Language	Software Edition	Target Software	Target Hardware	Other Information
a	cisco	ios	/	/	/	/	/	/	/	/
a	cisco	ios_xe	/	/	/	/	/	/	/	/

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ios-tacacs-hdB7thJw

CVSS Score

8.1 / 10

CVSS Data - 3.1

Attack Vector: NETWORK
Attack Complexity: HIGH
Privileges Required: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact: HIGH
Integrity Impact: HIGH
Availability Impact: HIGH

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

View Vector String

Timeline

Published: Sept. 24, 2025, 6:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Sept. 24, 2025, 6:15 p.m.

Status : Received

CVE has been recently published to the CVE List and has been received by the NVD.

More info

Source

psirt@cisco.com

CVE-2025-20160