# CVE-2022-20956: Missing authorization in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software

> Authenticated attackers can bypass authorization to list, download, and delete restricted system files in Cisco ISE.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Nov 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4x6g-xmp8-726r

## What is CVE-2022-20956?

CVE-2022-20956 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine, published on 3 Nov 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to bypass authorization and access system files.

 This vulnerability is due to improper access control in the web-based management interface of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to list, download, and delete certain files that they should not have access to.

 Cisco plans to release software updates that address this vulnerability.  

  https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-access-contol-EeufSUCx ["https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-access-contol-EeufSUCx"]

Weakness: CWE-648 (Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-20956?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Identity Services Engine.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-20956?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-20956 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-20956 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20956 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine

- [CVE-2026-76460](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76460/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20337](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20337/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20281](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20281/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-20130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20130/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Improper Neutralization Vulnerabilities (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-20192](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20192/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Access Control Vulnerabilities (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-20956 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-20956 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine, published on 3 Nov 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20956 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Identity Services Engine. 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-2022-20956/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20956/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-20956
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-20956
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-20956

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20956/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.