CVE-2025-20281
"Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Remote Code Execution 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.
INFO
Published Date :
June 25, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 16, 2025, 5:15 p.m.
Source :
[email protected]
Remotely Exploitable :
Yes !
Impact Score :
6.0
Exploitability Score :
3.9
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2025-20281 has a 6 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.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 | Vendor Advisory |
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
None
HTML Python Shell
📡 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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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.
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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.