Unwarranted Access Granted Through Cisco Unified Intelligence Center Flaw, Permitting External Hackers to Upload Unregulated Files Remotely
In a recent development, a high-severity vulnerability has been identified in Cisco Unified Intelligence Center (CUIC), tracked as CVE-2025-20274. This vulnerability, with a CVSS Base Score of 6.3, allows authenticated remote attackers with Report Designer privileges to upload arbitrary files to affected systems, potentially granting them root privileges.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient server-side validation of file uploads, enabling adversaries to store malicious payloads and execute arbitrary commands at the root level on vulnerable appliances. This could lead to severe consequences, such as data exfiltration, system compromise, and lateral movement within the network.
To mitigate this risk, Cisco has released software updates for CUIC releases 12.5(1)SU ES05, 12.6(2) ES05, and later, which enforce strict file-type validation and sandbox execution of uploaded artifacts. Customers without active service contracts should contact Cisco TAC to obtain firmware updates at no additional cost.
Here are the recommended steps to secure your CUIC environment:
1. **Apply the Latest Patch**: Ensure that the system is updated to version 12.5(1) SU ES05 or 12.6(2) ES05 for the Unified Intelligence Center, including Unified CCX bundles.
2. **Monitor System Resources**: Before applying the patch, verify that the system has sufficient memory and resources to handle the update.
3. **Post-Update Testing**: Verify that the current hardware and software configurations are supported by the newer version of the Cisco product after updating.
4. **Security Review**: Conduct a thorough review of user permissions and access controls to ensure only authorized users, especially those with Report Designer privileges, can perform file uploads.
5. **Regular Security Audits**: Perform regular security audits to detect and address any potential security gaps or vulnerabilities in the system.
Additional measures include monitoring unexpected file system changes and anomalous process executions, enforcing the principle of least privilege by restricting Report Designer access, and implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces.
After patching, operators must audit existing report templates and uploaded libraries to remove any unauthorized content. Furthermore, organizations running CUIC as part of Packaged Contact Center Enterprise, Unified CCE, or embedded within Unified Contact Center Express should consider their exposure immediate and severe.
By following these steps, organizations can effectively mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-20274 and enhance the overall security posture of their Cisco Unified Intelligence Center environment.
Technology and data-and-cloud-computing are crucial tools in the context of this situation. With the release of updates for CUIC to enforce strict file-type validation (technology), organizations can mitigate the risks associated with the identified Cisco Unified Intelligence Center vulnerability (data-and-cloud-computing). By applying the latest patch, securing user permissions, conducting regular security audits, and implementing additional measures, organizations can enhance the overall security posture of their Cisco Unified Intelligence Center environment.
