Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 | 3.4.0; 3.4 Patch 1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Identity Services Engine Software VendorCisco Affected 3.4.0; 3.4 Patch 1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.4.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.4.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.4.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.4.0 patch1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.4.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.4.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.4.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.4.0 patch1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-20282
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w8p2-wjjr-hr24
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-2022-05522 OS command injection in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-05381 Cisco Identity Services Engine Unauthorized File Access Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
Sources
- CVE-2025-20282 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-20282 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w8p2-wjjr-hr24 · 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