Cisco Identity Services Engine Java Deserialization Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-502.
Summary
A vulnerability in an API of Cisco ISE could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of user-supplied Java byte streams by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object to an affected API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges. Note: To successfully exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid read-only administrative credentials. In a single-node deployment, new devices will not be able to authenticate during the reload time.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Identity Services Engine Software | 3.0.0; 3.0.0 p1; 3.0.0 p2; 3.0.0 p3; 3.1.0; 3.0.0 p4; 3.1.0 p1; 3.0.0 p5; 3.1.0 p3; 3.1.0 p2; 3.0.0 p6; 3.2.0; 3.1.0 p4; 2.7.0 p8; 3.1.0 p5; 3.2.0 p1; 3.0.0 p7; 3.1.0 p6; 3.2.0 p2; 3.1.0 p7; 3.3.0; 3.2.0 p3; 3.0.0 p8; 3.2.0 p4; 3.1.0 p8; 3.2.0 p5; 3.2.0 p6; 3.1.0 p9; 3.3 Patch 2; 3.3 Patch 1; 3.3 Patch 3 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Cisco | Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector | 3.0.0; 3.2.0; 3.1.0; 3.3.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Identity Services Engine Software VendorCisco Affected 3.0.0; 3.0.0 p1; 3.0.0 p2; 3.0.0 p3; 3.1.0; 3.0.0 p4; 3.1.0 p1; 3.0.0 p5; 3.1.0 p3; 3.1.0 p2; 3.0.0 p6; 3.2.0; 3.1.0 p4; 2.7.0 p8; 3.1.0 p5; 3.2.0 p1; 3.0.0 p7; 3.1.0 p6; 3.2.0 p2; 3.1.0 p7; 3.3.0; 3.2.0 p3; 3.0.0 p8; 3.2.0 p4; 3.1.0 p8; 3.2.0 p5; 3.2.0 p6; 3.1.0 p9; 3.3 Patch 2; 3.3 Patch 1; 3.3 Patch 3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector VendorCisco Affected 3.0.0; 3.2.0; 3.1.0; 3.3.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 22
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 3.1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch3 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch4 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch5 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch6 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch7 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch8 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch4 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch5 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch6 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch7 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch8 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Show 12 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch9:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 patch9 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch3 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch4 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch5 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.0 patch6 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.3.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.3.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.3.0 patch2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.3.0 patch3 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.1.0:patch9:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 patch9 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch4 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch5 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.2.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.0 patch6 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 patch2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.3.0 patch3 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-20124
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4ch8-9r52-j78v
References
Advisory 1
More Cisco Identity Services Engine vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-53488 Cisco Identity Services Engine Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14632 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14578 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2021-19919 Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-14579 Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2022-05522 OS command injection in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-20124 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-20124 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4ch8-9r52-j78v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences