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CVE-2023-20085 Cisco Identity Services Engine

Affected softwareCisco Identity Services Engine
Severity6.1 Medium CVSS 3.1 2 scores
WeaknessCross-site scripting (CWE-79)
Published1 Mar 2023
Updated17 Jun 2026

Description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected device. 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 in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

Exploitation status

Exploited

Real-world exploitation reported by VulnCheck KEV. CISA has not confirmed it.

  • CISA KEV not listed
  • VulnCheck KEV listed Exploitation reported in the wild. 1 citation · earliest 2025-07-16.
  • CISA Vulnrichment no assessment published
  • Indexed PoC none indexed
  • EPSS 0.74% chance in 30 days

VulnCheck KEV

Exploitation evidence from VulnCheck Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (VulnCheck KEV), used under VulnCheck's community terms. View CVE-2023-20085 in VulnCheck (free account).

EvidenceSourceDetailDate
Reported exploitation cyfirma.com /research/apt-profile-fancy-bear-2 2025-07-16

Waratek protection

Outside Waratek scope

A Java vulnerability, but not one Waratek protects. It affects only Java on a user's desktop (applets, Web Start, JavaFX, the installer), sits in a product the Waratek agent can't be installed into, or is in a package we don't expect in business applications. The decision below says which.

  • Protection none
  • Action not pursued none
  • Review automated Upstream data
  • Record active
Decided by The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached
Finding This CVE names only products the Waratek agent cannot be installed into (cisco/identity_services_engine). They ship as sealed appliance images or as native code with no application JVM, so there is no start-up line to add -javaagent to. The vulnerability may well be a Java one; it is permanently out of ARMR's reach rather than outside its subject.

CVSS

6.1 MEDIUM v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N 2 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

VersionScoreBandVectorAssignerType
CVSS 3.1 6.1 MEDIUM CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N psirt@cisco.com Secondary published
CVSS 3.1 6.1 MEDIUM CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N NVD Primary

Affected software and releases

Products and versions

1 product, 1 version entry
SourceVendorProductSchemeAffected versions
nvd cisco identity services engine generic 3.2

References

URLTags
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-xss-ubfHG75C Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published2023-03-01By the CVE Program.
VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence2025-07-16Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.
NVD record modified2026-06-17NVD's own last-modified date for this record.