CVE-2025-20337
Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild. In CISA KEV since 2025‑07‑28. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
Steps
Written by AI from the record- Ask your IT provider to confirm whether you run Cisco Identity Services Engine or its Passive Identity Connector, and whether its API is reachable from the internet.
- Apply the Cisco security update or mitigation specified in the vendor advisory; the supplied findings do not name a fixed version.
- Restrict access to the affected API to trusted management networks until remediation is complete.
- Review the system for unfamiliar administrator activity or unexpected configuration changes after remediation.
What it is
From the CVE record
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.
In plain language
Written by AI from the recordThis is a critical flaw in Cisco Identity Services Engine that lets an outsider take over an affected system; small businesses using it should act now.
Unauthenticated remote code execution in a Cisco ISE API caused by insufficient validation of supplied input, allowing crafted requests to run code as root.
If you're affected
- Full system takeover
- Identity service disruption
- Network access compromise
- Sensitive data exposure
- Ransomware risk
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Listed as exploited in the wild since 2025-07-28.
US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-08-18.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Public exploits
0 sources with a proof of concept or module.
Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in- EPSS
68% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 99th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
8 events over 344 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- OpenVAS check added
- EPSS band changelow → high
- Patch availablerecord updated
- Added to CISA KEV
- Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped
Affected products
- identity services engineNetworking Infrastructure
- identity services engine passive identity connectorNetworking Infrastructure
- Cisco Identity Services Engine SoftwareNetworking Infrastructure
- Cisco ISE Passive Identity ConnectorNetworking Infrastructure
- Cisco Identity Services EngineNetworking Infrastructure
- Identity Services Engine Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC)Networking Infrastructure
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 10.0 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope ChangedThe exploit can affect other components (e.g. sandbox escape, host compromise from VM)
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
Sources
References in the record
In the news
Watch the software you run.
My Stack ranks new CVEs for your products by real-world exploitation, so the next exploited one reaches you without reading every advisory.
We'll flag the next CVE, public exploit or patch for Identity Services Engine, not every advisory. This one: actively exploited.
A free account adds
- The full version matrix and every affected product
- Exploit links, proofs of concept and Metasploit modules
- Email alerts for the products you watch
- The same data over REST API, MCP and CLI