CVE-2025-20160

Published Sep 24, 2025

Last updated 3 days ago

Overview

Description
A vulnerability in the implementation of the TACACS+ protocol in Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive data or bypass authentication. This vulnerability exists because the system does not properly check whether the required TACACS+ shared secret is configured. A machine-in-the-middle attacker could exploit this vulnerability by intercepting and reading unencrypted TACACS+ messages or impersonating the TACACS+ server and falsely accepting arbitrary authentication requests. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in a TACACS+ message or bypass authentication and gain access to the affected device.
Source
psirt@cisco.com
NVD status
Analyzed
Products
ios, ios_xe

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1

Type
Secondary
Base score
8.1
Impact score
5.9
Exploitability score
2.2
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity
HIGH

Weaknesses

psirt@cisco.com
CWE-287

Social media

Hype score
Not currently trending

Configurations