CVE-2025-20281

CVE Enrichment

CVSS: 10.0 CRITICAL
EPSS: 97.60%
EPSS Percentile: 99.90%
CISA KEV: YES — Known Exploited Vulnerability

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.

Technical Details

CVSS Version: 3.1
CNA / NVD Source: [email protected]
Published: 25-Jun-2025 23:15
Last Modified: 17-Jun-2026 15:41
EPSS Date: 2026-10-12
CWE: CWE-74

CVSS Vector


            CVSS:3.1                            AV:N /
                            AC:L /
                            PR:N /
                            UI:N /
                            S:C /
                            C:H /
                            I:H /
                            A:H

CISA KEV Details

Date Added: 2025-07-28
Remediation Due: 2025-08-18
Known Ransomware Campaign Use: Unknown
Required Action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Notes: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281

Affected Products / Versions

cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.4.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine
Version / affected range: 3.4.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.3.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.4.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
Version / affected range: 3.4.0
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*

References

Last enrichment sync: 24-Oct-2026 17:31
Sources: NVD · FIRST EPSS · CISA KEV
Latest successful provider update; providers refresh independently.

Reported Context (1)

This comes after Cisco patched two security vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20282) within its Identity Services Engine and ISE Passive Identity Connector, which previously allowed unauthenticated attackers Cisco Patches CVSS 10.0 Unified Communications Manager Flaw That Could Grant Root Access

CVE (2)

Threat Actors (4)

MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Vendors (1)

Products (4)

Tools (2)

Industries (3)

Countries (13)

Note: Related entities, including threat actors, malware, CVEs, MITRE ATT&CK techniques, vendors, products, tools, countries, and industries, are shown when they appear in the same reporting. Their presence does not necessarily mean they were targeted, compromised, vulnerable, responsible for the activity, or directly involved in the incident.