CVE-2025-20281: Cisco Identity Services Engine Software · Injection
Affects Cisco Identity Services Engine SoftwareSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · KEV due 18 Aug 2025 · public detection template (Nuclei) · 97% EPSS : apply the vendor's fix or mitigations to Cisco Identity Services Engine Software now.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- KEV deadline
- US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else. Other KEV due dates
- EPSS
- 97.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Jun 2025
Detectable: evidence found.
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 33 days after disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by Cisco Systems, Inc.
, 258 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
In Threat Radar
record ingested
, 10 minutes after disclosure
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
, 33 days after disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
, 54 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Cisco Identity Services Engine Software | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check the firmware or software version for Cisco Identity Services Engine Software in the device's admin interface against the vendor advisory.
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.
References
- sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 (opens in a new tab)
- zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20281 (opens in a new tab)