CASCACascade Atlas

Evidence dossier

CVE-2025-20281

Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

84.7–99.7Priority evidence range
As known Jul 19, 2026, 5:00 AM UTCgen-56ccdaf9

Normalized restatement

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.

State
PUBLISHED
Published
Jun 25, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Evidence coverage
85%
CISA KEVCatalog member

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

FIRST EPSS96.73%

2026-07-18 · v2026.06.15 · percentile 99.9%

Source stateNo scored conflict

Distinct CVSS assessments remain side by side; none are averaged.

Source comparison

Who said what

CISA-ADPindependent enrichment
container

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

ciscooriginal assertion
container

Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA KEVoriginal assertion
observed_exploitation

Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerability

FIRST EPSSoriginal assertion
model_probability

Probability 0.967320000000; percentile 0.998800000000

Applicability

Cited product scope

Trace impact →
CiscoCisco Identity Services Engine Software
[{"status": "affected", "version": "3.3.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 2"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 1"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 3"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.4.0"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 4"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.4 Patch 1"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 5"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "3.3 Patch 6"}]unknown
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch2:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch3:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch4:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch5:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.3.0:patch6:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*supported
Unknown vendorUnknown product
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector:3.4.0:patch1:*:*:*:*:*:*supported

Assessments

CVSS by origin

10.0
psirt@cisco.comCVSS 3.1 · role SecondaryCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0
ciscoCVSS 3.1 · role unknownCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Limitations and unknowns

  • KEV membership is authoritative for the catalog, not proof of exposure in any environment.
  • EPSS is a dated model probability and not an individual-environment prediction.
  • Affected or fixed status applies only to the exact cited product and version scope; unresolved scope remains unknown.
  • NVD-carried upstream facts remain derivative and are not independent corroboration.
  • Only NVD metrics validated under the generation-bound calculator are Public Priority eligible; direct CVE record metrics remain display-only.
  • NVD CVSS source eligibility is closed: NVD-authored, exact record-source, or registered same-CVE container origin; unmapped sources remain display-only.
  • Factor D is unknown in Public Core because no accepted canonical mapping-obligation ledger is present.
  • Core replay supports the active and immediately prior generation; retrospective valid-at replay is deferred.