# CVE-2025-20281: Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection > Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary code as root on Cisco ISE devices via crafted API requests due to insufficient input validation. - **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 28 Jul 2025 (CISA KEV) - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** No - **Published:** 25 Jun 2025 - **Updated:** 26 Feb 2026 - **Also known as:** GHSA-rc4f-42xm-hvjw ## What is CVE-2025-20281? CVE-2025-20281 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine, published on 25 Jun 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. ### Official description 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. Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20281? It affects 2 products. Products: Cisco Identity Services Engine, Cisco Identity Services Engine Passive Identity Connector. ## How do I fix CVE-2025-20281? No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20281 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 18 Aug 2025. ## Is CVE-2025-20281 being exploited? Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2025-20281 in the wild since at least 28 Jul 2025. Public exploit code: - Unauthenticated Python PoC for CVE-2025-20281 RCE against ISE ERS API (github_poc): https://github.com/abrewer251/CVE-2025-20281-2-Cisco-ISE-RCE - This script checks for the presence of the **CVE-2025-20281** vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC, which allows **unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE)** as root due to insufficient input validation in a specific API. (github_poc): https://github.com/grupooruss/CVE-2025-20281-Cisco - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution exploit for CVE-2025-20281 in Cisco ISE ERS API. Execute commands or launch reverse shells as root — no authentication required. (github_poc): https://github.com/ill-deed/Cisco-CVE-2025-20281-illdeed - Cisco ISE - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-20281.yaml ## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine - [CVE-2026-76460](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76460/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-20337](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20337/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-20130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20130/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Improper Neutralization Vulnerabilities (critical 10.0) - [CVE-2026-20192](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20192/): Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Access Control Vulnerabilities (critical 10.0) - [CVE-2025-20282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20282/): Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2025-20281 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2025-20281 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine, published on 25 Jun 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2025-20281 in the wild since at least 28 Jul 2025. Affected product: Cisco Identity Services Engine. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page. Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20281/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20281/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20281 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-20281 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20281/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.