Cisco IOS Software Industrial Ethernet Switch Device Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

TL;DR 📌

A privilege escalation vulnerability has been identified in the Cisco IOS Software Industrial Ethernet Switch Device Manager. This issue could allow authenticated remote attackers to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.3 (High severity). Cisco has released software updates to address this vulnerability, and there are no workarounds available.

What happened 🕵️‍♂️

A vulnerability in the Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switch Device Manager (DM) of Cisco IOS Software allows an authenticated remote attacker to elevate privileges due to insufficient validation of authorizations for authenticated users. By sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device, an attacker with valid credentials for a user account with privilege level 5 or higher could exploit this vulnerability to gain privilege level 15.

Affected products 🖥️

This vulnerability affects the following Cisco Industrial Ethernet Series Switches when running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software with HTTP enabled:

• IE 2000 Series
• IE 4000 Series
• IE 4010 Series
• IE 5000 Series

To check if the HTTP Server feature is enabled, use the command show running-config | include ip http server|secure|active in the CLI.

Fixed software 🔧

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

Workarounds 🧯

There are no workarounds that directly address this vulnerability. However, disabling the HTTP Server feature can eliminate the attack vector. To do this, use the commands no ip http server and no ip http secure-server in global configuration mode. Customers should evaluate the impact of this mitigation in their own environments before implementation.

Risk in context 🎯

With a CVSS score of 8.3, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for environments where the affected devices are accessible over the network. Organizations should prioritize applying the available software updates to mitigate potential exploitation.

Fast facts ⚡

• Vulnerability ID: CVE-2025-20164
• CVSS Score: 8.3 (High)
• Affected Products: Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches (IE 2000, 4000, 4010, 5000 Series)
• Exploitation: Requires valid credentials for a user account with privilege level 5 or higher.
• Mitigation: Disable HTTP Server feature.

For leadership 🧭

Executive summary. A flaw in the web-based management interface on Cisco’s IE 2000, 4000, 4010 and 5000 series switches lets someone with a limited privilege-5 account escalate to full privilege-15 admin rights over HTTP. This affects operational technology and industrial network switches, so plan for patching or disabling HTTP management on a near-term change window.

Why it matters:

• Any user with privilege level 5 or higher credentials on an IE 2000/4000/4010/5000 switch can send a single crafted HTTP request to the Device Manager and obtain full privilege level 15 control, no additional exploit chain needed.
• These switches typically sit in industrial and OT network segments, so a privilege escalation here could give an attacker administrative control over switching infrastructure that underpins plant or process networks.
• The only interim mitigation is disabling the HTTP Server feature entirely, which removes the Device Manager’s web interface and may affect how staff currently administer these switches.
• There is no partial fix or configuration workaround short of turning off HTTP access, so exposure persists on any device left with HTTP enabled until it is patched.

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