Analysis Summary

A critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-20274, has been identified in Cisco’s Unified Intelligence Center (CUIC), which allows authenticated remote attackers with Report Designer privileges to upload and execute arbitrary files. The flaw, scoring medium scale, arises from inadequate server-side file validation, making it possible for malicious actors to exploit this weakness and achieve root-level command execution on affected appliances. This vulnerability affects CUIC and its integrations in Packaged CCE, Unified CCE, and Unified CCX, posing a high risk to organizations running these platforms due to the absence of effective workarounds.

The core issue lies in CUIC’s file-upload handler, which fails to validate uploaded files’ content and metadata properly. With Report Designer privileges, an attacker can craft malicious archives or executables that bypass basic extension checks and are stored directly into the system’s file structure. When triggered by scheduled report tasks or administrative routines, these payloads can be executed, enabling attackers to escalate privileges and potentially control the system. This is classified under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, a known vector for remote code execution in web applications.

If exploited, this vulnerability can compromise the integrity of call-center analytics and expose sensitive customer interaction data. Attackers gaining access to a Report Designer account, often granted to power users or analysts, can use this access to install backdoors, extract data, or move laterally across network environments. Given that CUIC is typically deployed in high-value, customer-facing environments, exploitation could lead to operational disruption and reputational damage. Cisco has emphasized that all affected installations should be considered vulnerable unless patched and monitored aggressively.

To mitigate the threat, Cisco has released security updates for CUIC versions 12.5(1)SU ES05, 12.6(2) ES05, and later, which enforce strict file-type checks and introduce sandboxing for uploaded files. Organizations are strongly encouraged to upgrade immediately and verify that they are running a fixed version. Additionally, admins should audit existing report templates, remove unauthorized content, and implement least-privilege access controls, especially around Report Designer roles. Network segmentation, active file-integrity monitoring, and a robust incident response plan remain critical to detecting potential exploitation and minimizing future risk.

Impact

• Sensitive Information Theft
• Gain Access
• Code Execution
• Security Bypass

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2025-20274

Remediation

• Refer to Cisco Security Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Audit existing files and templates on CUIC to detect and remove any unauthorized or suspicious uploads.
• Restrict Report Designer access by applying the principle of least privilege, ensuring only essential personnel have elevated roles.
• Segment network access to isolate CUIC management interfaces from general user access and other systems.
• Enable file-integrity monitoring to track unexpected file system changes and unauthorized executions.
• Update incident response plans to include detection and response procedures for arbitrary file upload attempts.
• Contact Cisco TAC (Technical Assistance Center) if you lack a service contract, referencing the advisory and providing the product serial number to obtain free patches.
• Test patch deployment in a staging environment before pushing to production, ensuring no disruption to reporting operations.