CVE-2025-20364 is a vulnerability identified in Cisco Aironet Access Point Software running on IOS XE Controllers. The flaw lies in the Device Analytics action frame processing component of the wireless access point software. Specifically, the vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of incoming 802.11 Device Analytics action frames. An unauthenticated attacker located adjacent to the wireless network (i.e., within wireless range) can exploit this by injecting crafted 802.11 action frames containing arbitrary parameters. This injection allows the attacker to manipulate the Device Analytics data associated with legitimate wireless clients connected to the same wireless controller. Device Analytics data typically includes information used for network monitoring and management, such as client behavior and performance metrics. By injecting false data, the attacker can potentially disrupt network monitoring, mislead network administrators, or degrade network performance analysis. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, but the attacker must be within wireless range to send malicious frames. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), with attack vector as adjacent network, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts integrity only (no confidentiality or availability impact). The affected versions span a wide range of Cisco IOS XE releases from 16.10.1 through 17.15.3, indicating a broad exposure across many deployed Cisco Aironet APs. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, and no patches or mitigation links are provided in the data, suggesting that organizations should monitor Cisco advisories for updates.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of wireless network monitoring data. Since the attacker can inject arbitrary Device Analytics frames, network administrators may receive misleading or corrupted analytics, potentially causing misdiagnosis of network issues or masking of other malicious activities. While this does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the manipulation of analytics data can degrade operational security and network management effectiveness. Critical infrastructure, enterprises, and public sector organizations relying heavily on Cisco Aironet wireless infrastructure for secure and reliable connectivity could face operational challenges. Moreover, attackers could use this as a foothold to conduct further reconnaissance or lateral movement within the wireless environment. Given the adjacency requirement, the threat is more relevant in environments with accessible wireless networks such as corporate campuses, public Wi-Fi hotspots, or government facilities. The medium severity rating reflects the limited scope of impact but does not diminish the importance of maintaining accurate network analytics for security posture and compliance in European organizations.

1. Monitor Cisco security advisories closely for official patches or firmware updates addressing CVE-2025-20364 and apply them promptly. 2. Implement wireless network segmentation and strong access controls to limit the exposure of critical wireless infrastructure to unauthorized devices. 3. Use wireless intrusion detection/prevention systems (WIDS/WIPS) to detect anomalous or malformed 802.11 action frames indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Restrict physical and wireless access to sensitive areas to reduce the risk of adjacent attackers. 5. Regularly audit and validate Device Analytics data for inconsistencies that may indicate tampering. 6. Employ network anomaly detection tools that correlate wireless analytics with other network telemetry to identify suspicious patterns. 7. Consider disabling or restricting Device Analytics features if not essential, or configure them to accept frames only from trusted sources if possible. 8. Educate network operations teams about this vulnerability to increase awareness and readiness to respond to suspicious wireless activity.