Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

TL;DR 📌

• A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against a user of the interface. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious code…
• No fixed release listed yet; apply mitigations and monitor.
• Workarounds are documented in the advisory.
• CVEs: CVE-2025-20307.

What happened 🕵️‍♂️

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against a user of the interface.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious code into specific pages of the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials.

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Affected products 🖥️

At the time of publication, this vulnerability affected Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform, regardless of device configuration.

For information about which Cisco software releases were vulnerable at the time of publication, see the Fixed Software ["#fs"] section of this advisory. See the Details section in the bug ID(s) at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information.

Fixed software 🔧

Upgrade to the first fixed release in your train (or later):

Workarounds 🧯

There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Risk in context 🎯

Use vendor CVSS for prioritization. Consider exposure and asset criticality.

Fast facts ⚡

• Advisory: cisco-sa-broadworks-xss-O696ymRA
• Initial release: 2025-07-02T16:00:00 UTC
• Last updated: 2025-07-02T16:00:00 UTC

For leadership 🧭

Executive summary. A stored input-validation flaw in the BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform admin console lets a logged-in administrator’s browser session be hijacked to run attacker-supplied script, though the attacker already needs valid admin credentials to reach it. Given no workaround exists, this should be scheduled for patching in the next routine change window rather than treated as an emergency.

Why it matters:

• The flaw sits in the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform, a component service providers use to administer BroadWorks services directly.
• Exploitation requires valid administrative credentials, so the risk is concentrated on accounts with admin access to that interface, such as internal operations staff or compromised admin sessions.
• A successful attack runs arbitrary script in the context of the management interface, potentially exposing browser-based session data or credentials tied to that admin account.
• Cisco has stated there are no workarounds, meaning exposure persists on unpatched systems until software is upgraded.

Now / Next / Later:

• Now: Identify who holds administrative access to the BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform web interface and review those accounts for unnecessary or shared credentials.
• Next: Apply the fixed software release for your BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform train in the next scheduled maintenance window, since no workaround is available.
• Later: Tighten controls on who can reach the BroadWorks admin interface, such as restricting access by network segmentation and enforcing least-privilege on administrative accounts, to limit the impact of any future interface-based flaw.