CVE-2025-20281 KEV
10.0
CRITICAL · CVSS 3.1 · EPSS 97.6% (pctl 100)
Patch first
On CISA KEV — known exploited in the wild, due 2025-08-18.
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.
Scoring
| CVSS | 10.0 (CRITICAL, v3.1) |
|---|---|
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| EPSS | 97.6% — more likely to be exploited than 100% of all CVEs |
| Weakness | CWE-74 |
| On CISA KEV | yes — remediate by 2025-08-18 |
| Public exploit | none known |
| Published | 2025-06-25 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
CISA KEV
| Name | Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerability |
|---|---|
| Added | 2025-07-28 |
| Due | 2025-08-18 |
| Vendor / product | Cisco / Identity Services Engine |
| Ransomware use | none reported |
Affected (2)
| Vendor | Product |
|---|---|
| cisco | identity services engine |
| cisco | identity services engine passive identity connector |
References
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20281
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability
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