CVE-2025-20295 is a vulnerability identified in the Command Line Interface (CLI) of Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager Software. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command, commonly referred to as OS Command Injection. Specifically, the vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of command arguments supplied by an authenticated user with administrative privileges. An attacker who has valid administrative credentials on the affected UCS Manager device can exploit this flaw by submitting crafted input to the vulnerable CLI command. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to read, create, or overwrite any file on the underlying operating system's file system, including critical system files. This could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, modification of system configurations, or disruption of system operations. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Cisco UCS Manager software versions, spanning multiple major releases (3.2.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.x, 4.2.x, and 4.3.x). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.0, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) but high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), with high impact on confidentiality (C:H) and integrity (I:H), but no impact on availability (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The vulnerability is significant because it allows an attacker with existing administrative access to escalate their capabilities to manipulate the underlying operating system, potentially compromising the entire UCS infrastructure managed by the affected device.

For European organizations utilizing Cisco UCS Manager in their data centers or enterprise infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a considerable risk. Given that UCS Manager controls critical compute resources and server hardware management, exploitation could lead to unauthorized access or modification of system files, potentially disrupting business-critical applications or exposing sensitive data. The ability to overwrite system files could allow attackers to implant persistent backdoors, alter system behavior, or disable security controls. Since the vulnerability requires administrative credentials, the primary risk vector is insider threats or attackers who have already compromised administrative accounts. However, once exploited, the attacker could gain deeper control over the infrastructure, leading to lateral movement, data exfiltration, or sabotage. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, which is critical for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions prevalent in Europe. Additionally, disruption of UCS-managed infrastructure could affect service availability indirectly, impacting operational continuity. The medium CVSS score reflects the prerequisite of administrative access, but the potential damage post-exploitation is significant.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should monitor Cisco's official advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available for the affected UCS Manager versions. 2. Restrict administrative access: Limit administrative privileges strictly to trusted personnel and implement strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Input validation hardening: Although this is a vendor-side issue, organizations should work with Cisco support to verify if configuration changes or CLI usage restrictions can mitigate risk until patches are applied. 4. Monitor and audit: Implement continuous monitoring and auditing of administrative CLI commands and system file changes on UCS Manager devices to detect suspicious activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Network segmentation: Isolate UCS Manager management interfaces from general network access, restricting access to management VLANs or dedicated secure networks. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare incident response plans specific to UCS infrastructure compromise, including backup and recovery procedures for UCS Manager configurations and underlying systems. 7. Credential hygiene: Regularly rotate administrative credentials and review access logs to detect unauthorized access early. 8. Vendor engagement: Engage Cisco support for guidance on temporary mitigations or workarounds and to stay informed about patch releases.