Summary

• Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to issue commands on the underlying operating system as the root user. 

  For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory. 

  Cisco has released software updates that address these vulnerabilities. There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.

  Note: Since the publication of version 1.0 of this advisory, improved fixed releases have become available. Cisco recommends upgrading to an enhanced fixed release as follows:

  • If Cisco ISE is running Release 3.4 Patch 2, no further action is necessary.
  • If Cisco ISE is running Release 3.3 Patch 6, additional fixes are available in Release 3.3 Patch 7, and the device must be upgraded.
  • If Cisco ISE has either hot patch ise-apply-CSCwo99449_3.3.0.430_patch4-SPA.tar.gz or hot patch ise-apply-CSCwo99449_3.4.0.608_patch1-SPA.tar.gz installed, Cisco recommends upgrading to Release 3.3 Patch 7 or Release 3.4 Patch 2. The hot patches did not address CVE-2025-20337 and have been deferred from CCO.

  This advisory is available at the following link:
  https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6

Affected Products

• Vulnerable Products

  CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20337: These vulnerabilities affect Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC releases 3.3 and 3.4, regardless of device configuration. These vulnerabilities do not affect Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Release 3.2 or earlier.

  CVE-2025-20282: This vulnerability affects only Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Release 3.4, regardless of device configuration. This vulnerability does not affect Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Release 3.3 or earlier.

  Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

  Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by these vulnerabilities.

Details

• The vulnerabilities are not dependent on one another. Exploitation of one of the vulnerabilities is not required to exploit another vulnerability. In addition, a software release that is affected by one of the vulnerabilities may not be affected by the other vulnerabilities.

  Details about the vulnerabilities are as follows:

  CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20337: Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities

  Multiple vulnerabilities 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 these vulnerabilities.

  These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by submitting a crafted API request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain root privileges on an affected device.

  Cisco has released software updates that address these vulnerabilities. There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.

  Bug ID(s): CSCwo99449 and CSCwp02814
  CVE ID: CVE-2025-20281, CVE-2025-20337
  Security Impact Rating (SIR): Critical
  CVSS Base Score: 10.0
  CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

  CVE-2025-20282: Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

  A vulnerability in an internal API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected device and then execute those files on the underlying operating system as root.

  This vulnerability is due a lack of file validation checks that would prevent uploaded files from being placed in privileged directories on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a crafted file to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to store malicious files on the affected system and then execute arbitrary code or obtain root privileges on the system.

  Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

  Bug ID(s): CSCwp02821
  CVE ID: CVE-2025-20282
  Security Impact Rating (SIR): Critical
  CVSS Base Score: 10.0
  CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Workarounds

• There are no workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.

Fixed Software

• Cisco has released free software updates that address the vulnerability described in this advisory. Customers with service contracts that entitle them to regular software updates should obtain security fixes through their usual update channels.

  Customers may only install and expect support for software versions and feature sets for which they have purchased a license. By installing, downloading, accessing, or otherwise using such software upgrades, customers agree to follow the terms of the Cisco software license:
  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/end-user-license-agreement.html

  Additionally, customers may only download software for which they have a valid license, procured from Cisco directly, or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner. In most cases this will be a maintenance upgrade to software that was previously purchased. Free security software updates do not entitle customers to a new software license, additional software feature sets, or major revision upgrades.

  The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information about licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool.

  When considering software upgrades, customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for Cisco products, which are available from the Cisco Security Advisories page, to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.

  In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers.

  Customers Without Service Contracts

  Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco TAC: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-worldwide-contacts.html

  Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.

  Fixed Releases

  Customers are advised to upgrade to an appropriate fixed software release as indicated in the following table.

  Note: Since the publication of version 1.0 of this advisory, improved fixed releases have become available. Cisco recommends upgrading to an enhanced fixed release as follows:

  • If Cisco ISE is running Release 3.4 Patch 2, no further action is necessary.
  • If Cisco ISE is running Release 3.3 Patch 6, additional fixes are available in Release 3.3 Patch 7, and the device must be upgraded.
  • If Cisco ISE has either hot patch ise-apply-CSCwo99449_3.3.0.430_patch4-SPA.tar.gz or hot patch ise-apply-CSCwo99449_3.4.0.608_patch1-SPA.tar.gz installed, Cisco recommends upgrading to Release 3.3 Patch 7 or Release 3.4 Patch 2. The hot patches did not address CVE-2025-20337 and have been deferred from CCO.

  Cisco ISE or ISE-PIC Release	First Fixed Release for CVE-2025-20281	First Fixed Release for CVE-2025-20282	First Fixed Release for CVE-2025-20337
  3.2 and earlier	Not vulnerable	Not vulnerable	Not vulnerable
  3.3	3.3 Patch 7	Not vulnerable	3.3 Patch 7
  3.4	3.4 Patch 2	3.4 Patch 2	3.4 Patch 2

  For instructions on upgrading a device, see the Upgrade Guides on the Cisco Identity Service Engine support page.

  The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) validates only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

• In July 2025, the Cisco PSIRT became aware of attempted exploitation of CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20337 in the wild. Cisco continues to strongly recommend that customers upgrade to a fixed software release to remediate these vulnerabilities.

Source

• Cisco would like to thank the following people for reporting these vulnerabilities:

  • Bobby Gould of Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative: CVE-2025-20281
  • Kentaro Kawane of GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae, working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative: CVE-2025-20282 and CVE-2025-20337

URL

• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Status	Date
  2.2	Added the CVEs for which exploitation attempts have been observed.	Exploitation and Public Announcements	Final	2025-JUL-25
  2.1	Updated to indicate active exploitation attempts in the wild.	Exploitation and Public Announcements	Final	2025-JUL-21
  2.0	Updated Cisco ISE code fix, added CVE-2025-20337, and added CSCwp02814.	Header, Summary, and Fixed Releases	Final	2025-JUL-16
  1.0	Initial public release.	—	Final	2025-JUN-25

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