# CVE-2025-12420: Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation in ServiceNow AI Platform

> Unauthenticated attackers can impersonate users and perform their operations in ServiceNow AI Platform, requiring immediate patching.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Amber`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 26 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mwg5-cwh8-88m5

## What is CVE-2025-12420?

CVE-2025-12420 is a critical vulnerability in ServiceNow Now Assist AI Agents, published on 12 Jan 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in the ServiceNow AI Platform that could enable an unauthenticated user to impersonate another user and perform the operations that the impersonated user is entitled to perform.

ServiceNow has addressed this vulnerability by deploying a relevant security update to  hosted instances in October 2025. Security updates have also been provided to ServiceNow self-hosted customers, partners, and hosted customers with unique configurations. Additionally, the vulnerability is addressed in the listed Store App versions. We recommend that customers promptly apply an appropriate security update or upgrade if they have not already done so.

Weakness: CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-12420?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Servicenow Now Assist Ai Agents, Servicenow Virtual Agent Api.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-12420?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-12420 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-12420 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12420 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- This  script audits ServiceNow AI Agents for vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-12420, governance gaps, and compliance risks. Powered by CYBERDUDEBIVASH – your global ecosystem for cybersecurity, AI apps, services, and consulting. (github_poc): https://github.com/cyberdudebivash/CYBERDUDEBIVASH-ServiceNow-AI-Agent-Audit-Script
- Research and analysis of the ServiceNow Virtual Agent vulnerability (CVE-2025-12420), including attack flow, MITRE ATT&CK mapping, detection strategies, and mitigation recommendations. (github_poc): https://github.com/OloladeAbiola03/aisecplus-week01-servicenow-ai-security-incident

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-12420 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-12420 is a critical vulnerability in ServiceNow Now Assist AI Agents, published on 12 Jan 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12420 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: ServiceNow Now Assist AI Agents. 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-2025-12420/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12420/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-12420
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-12420
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-12420

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12420/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.