CVE-2025-20185

CVE-2025-20185 is a low-severity vulnerability in Cisco Asyncos with a CVSS 3.x base score of 3.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-250.

Key facts

Description

A vulnerability in the implementation of the remote access functionality of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to root. The attacker must authenticate with valid administrator credentials. This vulnerability is due to an architectural flaw in the password generation algorithm for the remote access functionality. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by generating a temporary password for the service account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root and access the underlying operating system. Note: The Security Impact Rating (SIR) for this vulnerability is Medium due to the unrestricted scope of information that is accessible to an attacker.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-20185?
A vulnerability in the implementation of the remote access functionality of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, Cisco Secure Email Gateway, and Cisco Secure Web Appliance could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to root. The attacker must authenticate with valid administrator credentials. This vulnerability is due to an architectural flaw in the password generation algorithm for the remote access functionality. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by generating a temporary password for the service account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root and access the underlying operating system. Note: The Security Impact Rating (SIR) for this vulnerability is Medium due to the unrestricted scope of information that is accessible to an attacker.
How severe is CVE-2025-20185?
CVE-2025-20185 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 3.4, rated low severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2025-20185 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (8th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-20185?
CVE-2025-20185 primarily affects Cisco Asyncos. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-20185?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2025-20185 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-20185 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-2173.
When was CVE-2025-20185 published?
CVE-2025-20185 was published on 2025-02-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (14)

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