Critical Cisco IOS XE Wireless Controller Vulnerability: Arbitrary File Upload Risk

Security Advisory Report: Cisco IOS XE Wireless Controller Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability (CVE-2025-20188)

Executive Summary

A critical vulnerability identified as cisco-sa-wlc-file-uplpd-rHZG9UfC has been discovered in the Out-of-Band Access Point (AP) Image Download feature of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs). This significant flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-20188, permits unauthenticated, remote attackers to upload arbitrary files, execute path traversal, and run arbitrary commands with root privileges on affected systems. The vulnerability poses a substantial security risk with a CVSS score of 10.0, categorized as Critical. Immediate action is required to mitigate potential exploitation.

Technical Information

The identified vulnerability, CVE-2025-20188, is embedded within the Out-of-Band AP Image Download feature of Cisco IOS XE Software for WLCs. The specific conditions that enable this vulnerability include enabling this feature, which is not the default setting. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific HTTPS requests aimed at the AP image download interface, resulting in unauthorized file uploads and command execution with elevated privileges.

• Advisory ID: cisco-sa-wlc-file-uplpd-rHZG9UfC
• CVE ID: CVE-2025-20188
• CVSS Score: 10.0 (Critical)
• CWE ID: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Changed
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: High
• Availability Impact: High

The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Out-of-Band AP Image Download feature, allowing attackers to override file paths and execute code remotely. This exposure could be leveraged to gain total control over the affected device, posing severe risks to network security and integrity.

Exploitation in the Wild

As of the most recent updates, there have been no confirmed cases of this vulnerability being actively exploited in the wild. However, the critical nature of the vulnerability necessitates immediate attention and remediation to prevent potential exploitation, particularly as threat actors continuously seek new attack vectors.

APT Groups using this vulnerability

While there are no specific reports of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups actively exploiting this vulnerability, the high-impact potential means that it may attract interest from cyber espionage groups seeking to compromise critical infrastructure. As such, organizations should remain vigilant and monitor threat intelligence updates for any emerging threats.

Affected Product Versions

The following Cisco products are vulnerable if running an affected release of Cisco IOS XE Software for WLCs with the Out-of-Band AP Image Download feature enabled:

Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controllers for Cloud, Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller for Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series Switches, Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers, and Embedded Wireless Controller on Catalyst APs. To verify vulnerability, administrators can execute the command

show running-config | include ap upgrade

. If the output includes

ap upgrade method https

, the device is vulnerable.

Workaround and Mitigation

Currently, there are no direct workarounds available for this vulnerability. However, a recommended mitigative action is to disable the Out-of-Band AP Image Download feature. This can be achieved by switching the AP image update process to the CAPWAP method, which does not disrupt the AP client state. Cisco has also released software updates to rectify this vulnerability, and it is strongly advised that administrators update their systems using the available patches from Cisco's official support and downloads page.

References

For further technical details and support, please refer to the following resources:

Cisco Security Advisory

NVD Entry for CVE-2025-20188

These references provide comprehensive guidance on understanding and addressing the vulnerability.

Rescana is here for you

Rescana is committed to helping our customers manage third-party risks effectively. Our platform provides continuous monitoring and risk assessment to ensure that your organization stays protected against emerging threats. For any questions regarding this report or any other cybersecurity concerns, please contact us at ops@rescana.com. We are here to support your security needs and help you maintain robust defenses against vulnerabilities.