CVE-2025-20281
Confirmed PUBLISHEDCisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
1 day faster than CISA KEV
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Jun 25, 2025
- Exploitation Reported
- Jun 01, 2026
- CVSS
- 10.0 Critical
- EPSS
- 96.7%
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3.0 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 2 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 1 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 3 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.4.0 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 4 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.4 Patch 1 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 5 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
|
3.3 Patch 6 |
Affected |
CVE References
- cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 sec.cloudapps.cisco.com · CVE Record https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurity...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CVE First | 2026-06-01 10:37 UTC |
| CISA | 2026-06-02 14:06 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-20281.yaml | Jun 01, 2026 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2026-06-01 10:37:36 UTC · CVE
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2026-06-12 14:21:05 UTC · Nuclei Templates
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-20281.yaml | Jun 01, 2026 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
14:21 UTC about 1 month ago14:21 UTC · about 1 month ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
14:06 UTC about 2 months ago14:06 UTC · about 2 months ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
15:34 UTC about 2 months ago15:34 UTC · about 2 months ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
10:37 UTC about 2 months ago10:37 UTC · about 2 months ago
Added to KEVIntel KEV Feed
High-confidence, third-party attested exploitation
-
16:11 UTC about 1 year ago16:11 UTC · about 1 year ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
19:15 UTC almost 2 years ago19:15 UTC · almost 2 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2025-20281
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2025-20281",
"title": "Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability",
"affected_vendor": "Cisco",
"affected_product": "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 10.0,
"epss_score": 0.96732,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}