A vulnerability in Java deserialization used by Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) prior to release 5.8 patch 9 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of user-supplied content by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object. An exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device with root privileges. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh25988.
Conclusion & alert: CVE-2018-0147 is rated Critical Active Threat (96.1/100): CVSS Critical severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 4.02%). Core evidence: CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2022-03-25) affecting Cisco / Secure Access Control System (ACS). a weakness (CWE-20) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. EPSS rose +1.00% over the last day, indicating growing attacker interest. Mandatory action: The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.
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: Cisco Secure Access Control System Java Deserialization Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail
: 2022-03-25
: 2022-04-15
: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).
| # | Date | Old EPSS score | New EPSS score | Delta (New - Old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026-02-15 | 3.02% | 4.02% | +1.00% |
| 2 | 2025-12-29 | 12.38% | 3.02% | -9.36% |
| 3 | 2025-12-22 | — | 12.38% | — |
Full EPSS history (23 records total)
CVSS metrics for this CVE.
| Base score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability | Impact | Score source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | 3.1 | CRITICAL |
|
3.9 | 5.9 | [email protected] |
| 9.8 | 3.1 | CRITICAL |
|
3.9 | 5.9 | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
| 10.0 | 2.0 | HIGH |
|
10.0 | 10.0 | [email protected] |
| Vendor | Product | Version | Raw CPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| cisco | secure_access_control_system | 5.2\(0.3\) | cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_access_control_system:5.2\(0.3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103328 | Third Party Advisory VDB Entry Broken Link |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040463 | Third Party Advisory VDB Entry |
| https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180307-acs2 | Vendor Advisory |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0147 | US Government Resource |