CVE-2025-20281 — AI Deep Analysis Summary

Q: Is it urgent? (Priority Suggestion)

🔥 **Urgency: CRITICAL** * **CVSS Score:** 9.8 / 10 (Critical). * **Risk:** Unauthenticated Root RCE. * **Recommendation:** Patch **IMMEDIATELY**. * **Timeline:** Active exploitation is likely. Do not wait. 🏃♂️💨

Updated May 06, 2026 CVSS 10.0 · Critical

This is a summary of the AI-generated 10-question deep analysis. The full version (longer answers, follow-up Q&A, related CVEs) requires login. Read the full analysis →

Q1What is this vulnerability? (Essence + Consequences)

🚨 **Critical RCE in Cisco ISE**

*   **Essence:** Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) & ISE-PIC suffer from insufficient input validation.
*   **Flaw:** Attackers inject shell commands via the ERS API.
*   **Consequence…

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Q2Root Cause? (CWE/Flaw)

🔍 **Root Cause: CWE-74**

*   **CWE ID:** CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements).
*   **The Flaw:** Lack of proper input sanitization in the `InternalUser` resource creation.
*   **Specifics:** The `name` p…

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Q3Who is affected? (Versions/Components)

🏢 **Affected Products**

*   **Vendor:** Cisco.
*   **Products:**
    *   Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Software.
    *   Cisco ISE-PIC (Passive Identity Connector).
*   **Scope:** All versions vulnerable until pa…

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Q4What can hackers do? (Privileges/Data)

👑 **Hacker Capabilities**

*   **Privileges:** Executes commands as **root** (highest privilege).
*   **Access:** Unauthenticated.…

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Q5Is exploitation threshold high? (Auth/Config)

⚡ **Exploitation Threshold: LOW**

*   **Authentication:** **None required.** 🚫🔑
*   **Complexity:** Low. Simple API request injection.
*   **User Interaction:** None.…

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Q6Is there a public Exp? (PoC/Wild Exploitation)

💣 **Public Exploits Available**

*   **Status:** Active PoCs exist on GitHub.
*   **Examples:**
    *   `CVE-2025-20281-2-Cisco-ISE-RCE` (Python PoC).
    *   `Cisco-CVE-2025-20281-Cisco` (Checker).
    *   `ill-deed/Cis…

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Q7How to self-check? (Features/Scanning)

🛡️ **Self-Check Methods**

*   **Scan:** Use Nuclei templates (`http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-20281.yaml`).
*   **Verify:** Run authorized Python PoCs against your ERS API endpoint.
*   **Target:** Check `/ers/sdk#_` endpoint …

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Q8Is it fixed officially? (Patch/Mitigation)

🩹 **Official Fix Status**

*   **Advisory:** Cisco Security Advisory `cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6` published.
*   **Action:** Update to patched versions immediately.
*   **Source:** Official Cisco Security Center.
*…

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Q9What if no patch? (Workaround)

🚧 **Mitigation (If No Patch)**

*   **Network Segmentation:** Block external access to ERS API ports.
*   **WAF Rules:** Block injection patterns in API requests.
*   **Access Control:** Restrict ERS API to trusted IPs o…

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Q10Is it urgent? (Priority Suggestion)

🔥 **Urgency: CRITICAL**

*   **CVSS Score:** 9.8 / 10 (Critical).
*   **Risk:** Unauthenticated Root RCE.
*   **Recommendation:** Patch **IMMEDIATELY**.
*   **Timeline:** Active exploitation is likely. Do not wait. 🏃‍♂️💨

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Vulnerability detail Full AI analysis (login) Cisco CWE-74