# CVE-2025-20334: Command injection in Cisco IOS XE Software

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary root commands via HTTP API input validation flaws in Cisco IOS XE, requiring admin access or user interaction.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 26 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gm2m-9c24-v5ff

## What is CVE-2025-20334?

CVE-2025-20334 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software, published on 24 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the HTTP API subsystem of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow a remote attacker to inject commands that will execute with root privileges into the underlying operating system.

 This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker with administrative privileges could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected system and performing an API call with crafted input. Alternatively, an unauthenticated attacker could persuade a legitimate user with administrative privileges who is currently logged in to the system to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20334?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-20334?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20334 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-20334 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20334 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-20334 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-20334 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software, published on 24 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20334 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco IOS XE Software. 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-2025-20334/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20334/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20334
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20334
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-20334

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20334/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.