# CVE-2018-0147: Cisco Secure Access Control System Java Deserialization

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via insecure Java deserialization in Cisco Secure ACS.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Mar 2018
- **Updated:** 12 Jan 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2ccw-7gjg-m467

## What is CVE-2018-0147?

CVE-2018-0147 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Cisco Secure Access Control System, published on 8 Mar 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in Java deserialization used by Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) prior to release 5.8 patch 9 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of user-supplied content by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object. An exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device with root privileges. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh25988.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-0147?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Secure Access Control System.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-0147?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-0147 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Apr 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-0147 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-0147 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Access Control System

- [CVE-2014-0648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0648/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-0650](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0650/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-0253](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0253/): Command injection in Cisco Secure Access Control System (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-0649](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0649/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2017-3841](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-3841/): Information disclosure in Cisco Secure Access Control System (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-0147 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-0147 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Cisco Secure Access Control System, published on 8 Mar 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-0147 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022.

Affected product: Cisco Secure Access Control System. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0147/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0147/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0147
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0147
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-0147

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0147/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.