CVE-2025-20346 is a vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center) stemming from improper privilege management due to flawed role-based access control (RBAC) implementation. Specifically, the vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker with valid read-only or Observer-level credentials to perform operations that should be restricted to Administrator roles. This includes modifying critical policy configurations within the DNA Center environment. The flaw arises because the system does not adequately enforce privilege boundaries between Observer and Administrator roles, enabling privilege escalation without requiring additional authentication or user interaction beyond initial login. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Cisco DNA Center versions, including multiple AIRGAP and VA Launchpad variants, indicating widespread exposure. Cisco DNA Center is a centralized network management and automation platform used to configure, monitor, and manage Cisco network devices and policies. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to alter network policies, potentially disrupting network operations, bypassing security controls, or facilitating further lateral movement within the network. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting that exploitation requires valid credentials but no user interaction, with limited impact on confidentiality and availability but moderate impact on integrity. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability’s presence in critical network management software makes it a significant concern for organizations relying on Cisco DNA Center for network orchestration and security policy enforcement.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-20346 can be substantial due to the critical role Cisco DNA Center plays in network management and policy enforcement. Unauthorized modification of network policies by an attacker with Observer-level access could lead to misconfiguration of security controls, enabling unauthorized access, data interception, or disruption of network services. This could compromise the integrity of network operations, potentially affecting sensitive data flows and critical infrastructure. Organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure that rely heavily on Cisco DNA Center for automated network management are particularly vulnerable. The ability to escalate privileges without additional authentication increases the risk of insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts being leveraged for broader attacks. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose confidential data or cause denial of service, the integrity impact on network policies can indirectly lead to significant security breaches or operational disruptions.

1. Apply official Cisco patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-20346 as soon as they become available to ensure proper RBAC enforcement. 2. Conduct a thorough audit of all user accounts with Observer or read-only roles in Cisco DNA Center, verifying that only necessary personnel have such access. 3. Implement strict credential management policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all DNA Center users to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4. Monitor and log all changes to network policies within DNA Center, setting up alerts for any modifications initiated by non-Administrator roles. 5. Restrict network access to the DNA Center management interface using network segmentation, VPNs, or IP whitelisting to limit exposure to trusted users only. 6. Regularly review and tighten RBAC configurations within DNA Center to ensure roles are correctly assigned and enforced. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of safeguarding credentials. 8. Consider implementing additional compensating controls such as just-in-time access or session monitoring to detect anomalous activities.