CVE-2025-20294
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated administrators on Cisco UCS Manager to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges through command injection in the CLI and web interface. It affects systems running vulnerable versions of Cisco UCS Manager Software. Attackers must have administrative credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Cisco UCS Manager Software
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with root-level access, allowing data theft, system modification, or deployment of persistent backdoors across the UCS infrastructure.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation from administrative to root access, enabling lateral movement within the UCS environment and potential compromise of managed servers.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to strong access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring that detects unusual administrative activity.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires administrative credentials and knowledge of vulnerable commands; exploitation involves crafting specific input to bypass validation
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Cisco Security Advisory for specific fixed versions
Vendor Advisory: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ucs-multi-cmdinj-E4Ukjyrz
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Review Cisco Security Advisory for affected versions. 2. Download and apply the appropriate patch from Cisco. 3. Verify the update was successful using version check commands.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Administrative Access
allLimit administrative access to UCS Manager to only necessary personnel using network segmentation and strict access controls
Input Validation Enhancement
allImplement additional input validation at network perimeter or through WAF for web interface
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate UCS management interfaces from general network access
- Enhance monitoring of administrative activity and command execution patterns for anomaly detection
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check current UCS Manager version against affected versions listed in Cisco Security AdvisoryCheck Version:
show version (in UCS Manager CLI)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify installed version matches or exceeds the fixed version specified in Cisco advisory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual command execution patterns by administrative users
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful admin login
- Commands with unusual parameters or shell metacharacters
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections from UCS Manager system
- Traffic patterns indicating command execution or data exfiltration
SIEM Query:
source="ucs_manager" AND (event_type="command_execution" AND command="*;*" OR command="*|*" OR command="*`*" OR command="*$(*)")