CVE-2025-20177 Cisco IOS XR Software Image Verification Bypass Vulnerability
An authenticated local attacker with root privileges can bypass image signature verification to load unverified software on Cisco IOS XR devices.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-20177?
CVE-2025-20177 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xr, published on 12 Mar 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A vulnerability in the boot process of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco IOS XR image signature verification and load unverified software on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have root-system privileges on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to incomplete validation of files in the boot verification process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the system configuration options to bypass some of the integrity checks that are performed during the boot process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to control the boot configuration, which could enable them to bypass the requirement to run Cisco-signed images or alter the security properties of the running system. Note: Because exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the attacker bypassing Cisco image verification, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.
Weakness: CWE-274
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20177?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Cisco Ios Xr.
How do I fix CVE-2025-20177?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20177 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2025-20177 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20177 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xr
- CVE-2020-3118 Cisco IOS XR Software Discovery Protocol Format String
- CVE-2020-3569 Cisco IOS XR Software DVMRP Memory Exhaustion
- CVE-2020-3566 Cisco IOS XR Software DVMRP Memory Exhaustion
- CVE-2010-3035 Cisco IOS XR Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Denial-of-Service
- CVE-2022-20821 Cisco IOS XR Open Port
Sources
Also known as GHSA-hghx-c858-jm7q.