Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-20059

Cisco Catalyst Center ≤ 2.3.3.7

Published
23 March 2023
Modified
23 July 2025
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 4.3
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0041 34th percentile
Risk Priority 37 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-20059 is a medium-severity J2EE Misconfiguration: Plaintext Password in Configuration File (CWE-555) vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst Center. Its CVSS base score is 4.3 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Credentials In Files (T1552.001); ranked at the 34th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A06:2025 Insecure Design

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A vulnerability in the implementation of the Cisco Network Plug-and-Play (PnP) agent of Cisco DNA Center could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information in clear text. The attacker must have valid low-privileged user credentials. This vulnerability is…

more

due to improper role-based access control (RBAC) with the integration of PnP. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and sending a query to an internal API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in clear text, which could include configuration files.

CWE(s)
CWE-555CWE-312

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
attack.mitre.org →
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
T1552.002 Credentials in Registry Credential Access
Adversaries may search the Registry on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
T1552.006 Group Policy Preferences Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to find unsecured credentials in Group Policy Preferences (GPP).
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-20350Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20055Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20183Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20184Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2024-20333Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2023-20182Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20349Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20353Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20210Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center
CVE-2025-20223Same product: Cisco Catalyst Center

Affected Assets

cisco
catalyst center
≤ 2.3.3.7 · 2.3.4.0 — 2.3.5.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 4 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V14.2.8

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

AT-3 Role-based Training
addresses: CWE-312

Training on secure data handling discourages cleartext storage of sensitive information.

CM-13 Data Action Mapping
addresses: CWE-312

Data action mapping can detect storage actions that leave sensitive information in cleartext.

CM-6 Configuration Settings
addresses: CWE-312

Configuration policies can mandate secure storage methods to avoid cleartext storage of sensitive information.

MP-1 Policy and Procedures
addresses: CWE-312

Policy requires protection measures such as encryption for sensitive data stored on media, preventing cleartext exposure.

SC-12 Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management
addresses: CWE-312

Key-management policy requires protected storage of key material, preventing cleartext storage of sensitive cryptographic keys.

SC-28 Protection of Information at Rest
addresses: CWE-312

Requiring confidentiality protection for information at rest eliminates cleartext storage of sensitive data on persistent media.

SC-38 Operations Security
addresses: CWE-312

Reduces cleartext storage of sensitive data when OPSEC identifies and mandates protection of key information artifacts.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-01 full match
prevents

Encryption and cryptographic controls for data-at-rest directly prevent cleartext storage of sensitive information.

PR.PS-01 mostly match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines and reviews directly prevent plaintext credential storage.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.9 Configuration management mostly match
prevents

Enforces secure configuration management, reducing the risk of plaintext secrets being stored in application config files.

A.5.17 Authentication information partial match
degrades

Requires secure handling and storage of authentication credentials, directly addressing plaintext passwords in config files.

A.7.14 Secure disposal or re-use of equipment partial match
mitigates

Requiring non-standard deletion or physical destruction of media ensures that sensitive information is not left in cleartext on discarded or repurposed equipment.

A.7.9 Security of assets off-premises partial match
mitigates

Secure deletion of data before device transfer prevents residual sensitive information from remaining in cleartext on storage media that leave organizational control.

A.8.10 Information deletion partial match
mitigates

Secure deletion of obsolete or temporary copies prevents sensitive data from remaining in cleartext on disk after its intended lifetime.

A.8.11 Data masking partial match
mitigates

Substituting real values with hashes or encrypted tokens before storage reduces the quantity of cleartext sensitive information that ends up persisted on disk.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
  • V-248525 All OL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at-rest protection. prevents CWE-312
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
  • V-271756 OL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-312
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
  • V-230224 All RHEL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-312

References