CVE-2025-20281
Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 97.60 % · percentile 100 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- cisco
- NVD status
- Analyzed
Description
A vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system as root. The attacker does not require any valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted API request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain root privileges on an affected device.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-74 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements (Injection)
References
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20281
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL 10.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H | cisco |
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL 10.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H | NVD · psirt@cisco.com (Secondary) |
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-19167
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2025-20281
CERT-FR advisories
- CERTFR-2025-AVI-0539 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans Cisco Identity Services Engine · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
Affected configurations (NVD CPE)
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Cisco · Cisco Identity Services Engine Software | affected 3.3.0 ; affected 3.3 Patch 2 ; affected 3.3 Patch 1 ; affected 3.3 Patch 3 ; affected 3.4.0 ; affected 3.3 Patch 4 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities | CC0 1.0 |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| CERT-FR (ANSSI) | Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0 |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |