# CVE-2025-20188: Hardcoded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software

> Unauthenticated attackers can upload arbitrary files and execute commands with root privileges due to a hard-coded JWT in Cisco IOS XE Wireless LAN Controllers.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 May 2025
- **Updated:** 6 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-489q-h7v6-2626

## What is CVE-2025-20188?

CVE-2025-20188 is a critical vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 7 May 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the Out-of-Band Access Point (AP) Image Download, the Clean Air Spectral Recording, and the client debug bundles features of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected system.

 This vulnerability is due to the presence of a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) on an affected system.  An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS requests to the AP file upload interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload files, perform path traversal, and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20188?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Ios Xe.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-20188?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20188 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-20188 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-20188 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Cisco IOS XE WLC - Arbitrary File Upload (nuclei): http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-20188.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xe

- [CVE-2023-20198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20198/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-0151](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0151/): Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-20273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20273/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection (high 7.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-34770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34770/): Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Family Wireless Controllers CAPWAP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2019-12643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12643/): Cisco REST API Container for IOS XE Software Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-20188 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-20188 is a critical vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 7 May 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-20188 exists.

Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe. 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-2025-20188/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20188/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20188
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20188
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-20188

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20188/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.