Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach ISE management interface over network
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DeliverySend crafted request with SQL payload
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ExploitBypass input validation
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ExecutionInjected SQL executes on backend DB
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ImpactModify records in underlying database
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Parameterized queries, prepared statements
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Persistence The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | No special conditions stated - the vendor vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) indicates remote unauthenticated exploitation of an affected Cisco ISE device via a single crafted request against default-reachable functionality; no configuration toggle, feature enablement, or user interaction is required per the advisory. The primary LIMITING factors are: network reachability to the ISE management/service interface (typically restricted to internal/management networks in well-segmented deployments), the deliberately narrow impact (data modification only - no confidentiality or availability effect), and applicability only to ISE versions 3.1.x through 3.5.x. Defenders who restrict ISE management-plane exposure to trusted networks substantially reduce realistic exposure. |
| Impact | This is a genuinely notable finding: an unauthenticated, remote SQL injection (CVSS 7.5, AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) in Cisco ISE, a ubiquitous enterprise NAC/identity platform. The strongest risk signals are the unauthenticated network vector and low attack complexity - no credentials or user interaction required. However, the impact is deliberately narrow: the vendor vector is C:N/I:H/A:N, meaning the flaw permits only modification of database data, not reading (no data exfiltration) and no service disruption. This is unusual for an unauthenticated SQLi and materially lowers the blast radius versus a full read/write compromise. Countervailing signals lower the urgency: no CISA KEV listing, no public proof-of-concept, and no EPSS score is available, so there is no evidence of active or imminent exploitation. Net assessment: prioritize patching because the unauthenticated vector on a high-value identity appliance is attractive, but this is a high-CVSS integrity flaw rather than a confirmed emergency; the integrity-only scope and absence of exploitation signals argue for prompt-but-scheduled remediation rather than break-glass response. One point to verify with Cisco: unauthenticated SQLi that yields only data modification (not read) is atypical, and the exact affected endpoint/parameter is not disclosed in the advisory summary. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with only network reachability to an affected Cisco ISE node sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint that fails to validate user-supplied input, injecting SQL that alters records in the underlying database. Because no authentication or user interaction is required, this could be automated against internet-facing or reachable management interfaces to tamper with identity/policy data. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 16, 2026
Unauthenticated remote SQL injection in Cisco ISE 3.1.x through 3.5.x allows a network attacker to modify data in the product's underlying database via a crafted request, per CVSS 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N). The flaw is CWE-89 improper neutralization of special elements in SQL, and Cisco's advisory plus ENISA EUVD list numerous 3.1.0-3.5 patch levels as affected. No public exploit was identified at time of analysis, and no KEV signal was supplied; the assessed limiting factor is network reachability to ISE management or service interfaces.
RemediationAI
No exact fixed version is specified in the supplied data; Cisco's advisory at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-sql-inj-3QTKR947 is the authoritative source and should be used to identify the patched ISE release for each affected train. Until upgrading, reduce exposure by restricting access to ISE management and service interfaces to trusted internal networks via firewall, ACL, or segmentation, because the flaw is remote and unauthenticated per the assessed vector; the trade-off is that this can block legitimate administrative, integration, or monitoring traffic and must be scoped carefully. Also review database and ISE logs for unexpected SQL injection attempts, and monitor Cisco's advisory for updated fixed-version details.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Cisco ISE is an enterprise network access control and identity platform; this CVE is in the Cisco Identity Services Engine Software (CPE cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cisco_identity_services_engine_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*). The root cause is CWE-89, SQL injection, arising from improper validation or neutralization of user-supplied input before it is used in a database query. Because the CVSS vector has AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, the advisory indicates a remote, unauthenticated attacker can reach the vulnerable functionality with a single crafted request and alter database contents; the scored impact is integrity-only (I:H) with no confidentiality or availability effect. EUVD's affected-version list spans ISE 3.1.0 through 3.5.x patch levels.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Description and advisory support unauthenticated network SQLi (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N) with impact limited to database modification (I:H), no read or DoS (C:N/A:N), same-scope backend (S:U).
Primary rating from Vendor (cisco).
CVSS VectorVendor: cisco
DescriptionCVE.org
A vulnerability in Cisco ISE could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct SQL injection attacks on an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to modify data in the underlying database.
Executive ViewAI
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) releases 3.1.x through 3.5.x are affected by an unauthenticated SQL injection flaw that lets a network-positioned attacker alter data in the platform's underlying database. Because ISE is the enforcement point for network access control and identity-based policy, unauthorized database changes could silently corrupt the trust decisions the organization relies on for user and device authorization. Any environment where ISE management or service interfaces are reachable from user, guest, or other untrusted segments should treat this as a priority exposure.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: restrict network reachability to ISE management and service interfaces via segmentation, ACLs, and firewall rules so only trusted administrative networks can reach them; force all administrative access through a hardened jump host or out-of-band management path; enable and monitor audit logging and alerting on the affected interfaces to detect anomalous database-modifying requests; review and minimize ISE administrative role assignments and rotate administrative credentials; validate database integrity against known-good backups to identify unauthorized modifications; and monitor Cisco's advisory for a fixed release, applying it as soon as it is published.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
SQL injection exploits the way applications construct database queries by mixing user input directly into SQL statements.
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EUVD-2026-81124
GHSA-x5qw-hwvr-5f3m
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Exploit-DB