CVE-2025-20281
Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerabi - [Actively Exploited]
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.
INFO
Published Date :
June 25, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 30, 2025, 7:24 p.m.
Source :
[email protected]
Remotely Exploitable :
Yes !
Impact Score :
6.0
Exploitability Score :
3.9
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
For the benefit of the cybersecurity community and network defenders—and to help every organization better manage vulnerabilities and keep pace with threat activity—CISA maintains the authoritative source of vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild.
Cisco Identity Services Engine contains an injection vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input allowing an attacker to exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted API request. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to perform remote code execution and obtaining root privileges on an affected device.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2025-20281 has a 9 public PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2025-20281
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-20281.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
CVE-2025-20281
Python
Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution exploit for CVE-2025-20281 in Cisco ISE ERS API. Execute commands or launch reverse shells as root — no authentication required.
Python
This script checks for the presence of the **CVE-2025-20281** vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC, which allows **unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE)** as root due to insufficient input validation in a specific API.
Python
Unauthenticated Python PoC for CVE-2025-20281 RCE against ISE ERS API
Python
CISA maintains the authoritative source of vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild and CryptoGen Nepal aims to simplify this for the general public in a more understandable way as well as in a format that can be easily integrated into their threat intelligence systems.
cve json rss cgn cisa kev
Python HTML
None
HTML Python Shell
None
Python
CISA Bot is a GitHub bot that automatically monitors the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog. When new vulnerabilities are published in the KEV, the bot creates GitHub issues in this repository with detailed information about each vulnerability.
Python
📡 PoC auto collect from GitHub. ⚠️ Be careful Malware.
security cve exploit poc vulnerability
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-20281 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
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europa.eu
Cyber Brief 25-08 - July 2025
Cyber Brief (July 2025)August 4, 2025 - Version: 1TLP:CLEARExecutive summaryWe analysed 287 open source reports for this Cyber Brief1.Relating to cyber policy and law enforcement, the EU, UK, and US h ... Read more
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The Cyber Express
CISA Adds Cisco ISE and PaperCut Vulnerabilities to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a critical alert, adding three high-impact vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog. These inclu ... Read more
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CybersecurityNews
CISA Warns of Cisco Identity Services Engine Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks
CISA has issued an urgent warning regarding two critical injection vulnerabilities in Cisco’s Identity Services Engine (ISE) that threat actors are actively exploiting. The vulnerabilities, tracked as ... Read more
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TheCyberThrone
CISA adds CISCO ISE and PaperCut MF flaws to KEV Catalog
Skip to content July 29, 2025The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added three significant vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on July 2 ... Read more
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BleepingComputer
Exploit available for critical Cisco ISE bug exploited in attacks
Security researcher Bobby Gould has published a blog post demonstrating a complete exploit chain for CVE-2025-20281, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services E ... Read more
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Zero Day Initiative
CVE-2025-20281: Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
On January 25th, 2025, the Trend Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) received a report from Kentaro Kawane of GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae regarding a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in Cisco Iden ... Read more
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security.nl
Shadowserver: kritiek Cisco ISE-lek sinds 5 juli misbruik bij aanvallen
Een kritieke kwetsbaarheid in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) en Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) is sinds 5 juli misbruikt bij aanvallen, zo stelt The Shadowserver Foundation, een ... Read more
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The Register
No login? No problem: Cisco ISE flaw gave root access before fix arrived, say researchers
Threat actors have actively exploited a newly patched vulnerability in Cisco's Identity Services Engine (ISE) software since early July, weeks before the networking giant got around to issuing a fix. ... Read more
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Help Net Security
Maximum severity Cisco ISE vulnerabilities exploited by attackers
One or more vulnerabilities affecting Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) are being exploited in the wild, Cisco has confirmed by updating the security advisory for the flaws. About the vulnerabiliti ... Read more
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security.nl
Cisco waarschuwt voor actief misbruik van kritieke ISE-kwetsbaarheden
Aanvallers maken actief misbruik van kritieke kwetsbaarheden in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) en Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) waardoor kwetsbare servers volledig op afstand zi ... Read more
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BleepingComputer
Cisco: Maximum-severity ISE RCE flaws now exploited in attacks
Cisco is warning that three recently patched critical remote code execution vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) are now being actively exploited in attacks. Although the vendor did ... Read more
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The Hacker News
Cisco Confirms Active Exploits Targeting ISE Flaws Enabling Unauthenticated Root Access
Jul 22, 2025Ravie LakshmananNetwork Security / Vulnerability Cisco on Monday updated its advisory of a set of recently disclosed security flaws in Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Iden ... Read more
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CybersecurityNews
Cisco Warns of Identity Services Engine RCE Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild
Cisco Systems has issued a critical security advisory warning of multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) that are being actively exploited by attackers in ... Read more
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Daily CyberSecurity
Urgent: Cisco ISE Flaws (CVSS 10.0) Actively Exploited in the Wild – Patch Immediately!
Cisco has issued an urgent update to its security advisory, revealing that three critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC are being acti ... Read more
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security.nl
Cisco waarschuwt voor kritieke kwetsbaarheden Cisco ISE en Cisco ISE-PIC
Cisco waarschuwt voor meerdere critical kwetsbaarheden in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) en Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC). De kwetsbaarheden stellen kwaadwillenden in staat om a ... Read more
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The Cyber Express
New Cisco Bugs Rated CVSS 10.0, Patch Immediately
Cisco has issued a new security advisory warning of newly discovered vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC), revealing serious security flaw ... Read more
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TheCyberThrone
CVE-2025-20337: Cisco ISE Critical RCE Vulnerability
Skip to content July 18, 2025SummaryCVE-2025-20337 is a critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE- ... Read more
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The Register
Watch out, another max-severity, make-me-root Cisco bug on the loose
Cisco has issued a patch for a critical 10 out of 10 severity bug in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacke ... Read more
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BleepingComputer
Max severity Cisco ISE bug allows pre-auth command execution, patch now
A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-20337) in Cisco's Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be exploited to let an unauthenticated attacker store malicious files, execute arbitrary code, or gain root pr ... Read more
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The Hacker News
Critical Cisco Vulnerability in Unified CM Grants Root Access via Static Credentials
Vulnerability / Network Security Cisco has released security updates to address a maximum-severity security flaw in Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Unified Communications Manager Sessi ... Read more
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Daily CyberSecurity
CVE-2025-20309 (CVSS 10): Cisco Patches Critical Static SSH Root Credential Flaw in Unified CM
Cisco has disclosed a critical vulnerability in its Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Session Management Edition (SME) platforms. Tracked as CVE-2025-20309 and rated CVSS 10, the flaw ex ... Read more
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TheCyberThrone
Cisco ISE Vulnerabilities June 2025
Skip to contentCisco has disclosed three major security vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC platforms. Two of them are critical remote code execution (RCE) flaws that can ... Read more
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Daily CyberSecurity
Cisco ISE/ISE-PIC Alert: Two Critical RCE Flaws (CVSS 10.0) Allow Unauthenticated Root Access
Cisco has disclosed two critical vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could allow unauthenticated, remote attackers to execute arbitrary ... Read more
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The Register
Cisco fixes two critical make-me-root bugs on Identity Services Engine components
Cisco has dropped patches for a pair of critical vulnerabilities that could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to execute code on vulnerable systems. Tracked as CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20282, ... Read more
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BleepingComputer
Cisco warns of max severity RCE flaws in Identity Services Engine
Cisco has published a bulletin to warn about two critical, unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities affecting Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and the Passive Identity Connector ... Read more
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The Hacker News
Critical RCE Flaws in Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Allow Unauthenticated Attackers to Gain Root Access
Vulnerability, Network Security Cisco has released updates to address two maximum-severity security flaws in Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could perm ... Read more
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Cyber Security News
Cisco Identity Services Engine RCE Vulnerability Allows Remote Command Execution as Root User
Two critical security vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on ... Read more
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security.nl
Cisco ISE-servers via kritieke kwetsbaarheden volledig over te nemen
Cisco waarschuwt voor twee kritieke kwetsbaarheden in de Identity Services Engine (ISE) waardoor aanvallers volledige controle kunnen krijgen over de server waarop de oplossing draait. De impact van b ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-20281 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 30, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference Type CISA-ADP: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability Types: Exploit, Third Party Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 30, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability -
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 29, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *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:3.4.0: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:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* OR *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *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:3.4.0: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:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* -
CVE CISA KEV Update by 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725
Jul. 29, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Date Added 2025-07-28 Added Due Date 2025-08-18 Added 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. Added Vulnerability Name Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerability -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jul. 16, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Removed CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H -
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jun. 26, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *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:3.4.0: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:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Added Reference Type Cisco Systems, Inc.: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 Types: Vendor Advisory -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jun. 25, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added 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. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-74 Added Reference https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-20281 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-20281
weaknesses.