CVE-2025-20256 Cisco Secure Network Analytics Manager Server-Side Template Injection Vulnerability

Medium 6.5 Published 21 May 2025 Updated 26 Feb 2026

Authenticated administrators can execute arbitrary root commands via server-side template injection in the web interface.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: An administrator
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2025-20256?

CVE-2025-20256 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Cisco Secure Network Analytics, published on 21 May 2025. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Network Analytics Manager and Cisco Secure Network Analytics Virtual Manager 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 input validation in specific fields of the web-based management interface. An attacker with valid administrative credentials could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges. 

Weakness: CWE-74

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20256?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Cisco Secure Network Analytics.

How do I fix CVE-2025-20256?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20256 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.

Is CVE-2025-20256 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20256 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-w687-qrqx-jr57.