CVE-2025-20178 Cisco Secure Network Analytics Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Medium 6.0 Published 16 Apr 2025 Updated 26 Feb 2026

An authenticated admin can execute arbitrary commands as root by restoring a malicious backup file in Cisco Secure Network Analytics.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: An administrator
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2025-20178?

CVE-2025-20178 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Secure Network Analytics, published on 16 Apr 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Network Analytics could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with valid administrative credentials to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to insufficient integrity checks within device backup files. An attacker with valid administrative credentials could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious backup file and restoring it to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain shell access on the underlying operating system with the privileges of root.

Weakness: CWE-347

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20178?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Cisco Secure Network Analytics.

How do I fix CVE-2025-20178?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20178 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Is CVE-2025-20178 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20178 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-vr9w-fp6c-vj58.