CVE-2025-20281Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Updated under an hour ago ()
Does this affect you?
It affects Cisco Identity Services Engine Software and 2 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
CISA lists it as known exploited since Jul 28, 2025; federal agencies had to remediate by Aug 18, 2025. Treat that date as your deadline.
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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.
- CVSS
- 10.0 CRITICAL (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-74
- Known exploited
- Added to CISA KEV Jul 28, 2025; federal remediation due Aug 18, 2025Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- 97.60% (percentile 100)
- Assigned by
- cisco
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
Cisco Cisco Identity Services Engine Software cisco:identity_services_engine_software (from the name) | 3.3.0; 3.3 Patch 2; 3.3 Patch 1; 3.3 Patch 3; 3.4.0; 3.3 Patch 4; 3.4 Patch 1; 3.3 Patch 5; and 1 more ranges | CNA record |
cisco identity_services_engine cisco:identity_services_engine | 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.4.0; and 1 more ranges | NVD |
cisco identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector | 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.4.0; and 1 more ranges | NVD |
References
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6vendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20281us-government-resource
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerabilityexploit, third-party-advisory
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.