CVE-2025-20288 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability identified in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Intelligence Center, a component of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express. This vulnerability arises from improper input validation of specific HTTP requests, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to send crafted HTTP requests to the affected device. Exploiting this flaw enables the attacker to induce the vulnerable server to make arbitrary network requests on their behalf. Since the requests originate from the affected device, this can be leveraged to access internal resources that are otherwise inaccessible externally, potentially bypassing network segmentation and firewall rules. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express versions, including multiple subversions from 10.5(1) through 12.5(1) with various service updates and extensions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.8, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N) highlights that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without authentication or user interaction, with low attack complexity. The impact is limited to integrity loss, as the attacker can manipulate internal requests but does not gain direct confidentiality or availability impacts. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links are provided in the data. The vulnerability's scope is classified as changed (S:C), meaning the exploitation affects resources beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially impacting other internal systems reachable via the compromised server. This SSRF vulnerability is significant because Cisco Unified Contact Center Express is widely used in enterprise environments to manage customer interactions, making it a critical infrastructure component. An attacker leveraging this SSRF could pivot within the internal network, potentially accessing sensitive internal services or data, or facilitating further attacks such as lateral movement or data exfiltration.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-20288 can be substantial due to the widespread adoption of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express in customer service and call center operations across various industries including telecommunications, finance, and public services. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass perimeter defenses and access internal network resources, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or manipulation of internal services. This could disrupt customer service operations, degrade trust, and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is exposed or integrity compromised. The SSRF nature of the vulnerability means attackers could use the affected device as a pivot point to reach otherwise isolated internal systems, increasing the risk of broader network compromise. Given the unauthenticated and remote exploitability, attackers do not require prior access, increasing the threat level. Although the CVSS score is medium, the changed scope and potential for internal network reconnaissance and exploitation elevate the risk profile for organizations with sensitive internal infrastructure. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as threat actors often develop exploits rapidly after disclosure. European organizations relying on Cisco Unified Contact Center Express should consider this vulnerability a significant risk to their internal network security and operational continuity.

1. Immediate deployment of any available Cisco security updates or patches for the affected versions of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express is critical. Organizations should monitor Cisco's official advisories closely for patch releases. 2. If patches are not yet available, implement strict network segmentation to isolate the management interface of Cisco Unified Intelligence Center from untrusted networks, limiting access to trusted administrative hosts only. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious SSRF patterns or malformed HTTP requests targeting the management interface. 4. Restrict outbound network traffic from the Cisco Unified Contact Center Express server to only necessary destinations, preventing arbitrary internal or external requests initiated by the server. 5. Conduct thorough logging and monitoring of network requests originating from the affected device to detect anomalous or unauthorized request patterns indicative of SSRF exploitation attempts. 6. Review and harden input validation mechanisms where possible, including disabling or restricting features that allow the server to make arbitrary HTTP requests. 7. Educate network and security teams about the SSRF threat to ensure rapid detection and response to potential exploitation attempts. 8. As a longer-term measure, consider architectural changes to reduce reliance on vulnerable components or implement additional layers of defense such as zero trust network access controls around critical infrastructure.