CVE-2025-20282 PoC — Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source

https://github.com/skadevare/CiscoISE-CVE-2025-20282-POC

Associated Vulnerability

Title: Cisco ISE API Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2025-20282)
Description:A vulnerability in an internal API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected device and then execute those files on the underlying operating system as root. This vulnerability is due a lack of file validation checks that would prevent uploaded files from being placed in privileged directories on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a crafted file to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to store malicious files on the affected system and then execute arbitrary code or obtain root privileges on the system.

Description

Proof of concept of CVE-2025-20282, the perfect 10.

Readme

Cisco ISE CVE 2025-20282

Proof of concept 
Writeup: https://riversecurity.eu/like-stealing-cisco-ise-cream-from-a-kid-weaponizing-a-cve/


The python script abuses the upload function that is availible unauthenticated at /admin/files-upload/ 

The script locally creates a bin folder and a file named isehourlycron.sh and fills it with the (the file is base64 encoded and included in the script) original content from Cisco ISE installation (located in /opt/CSMS/bin) folder.

A command is then added at the end of the file. Unless you specify "--reset", in that case the command will not be added and the file will be reverted to the original content.

The script then zips that folder recursivly with its content to a file named output.zip.

The file is then uploaded to the ISE installation using the /admin/files-upload/.

On the Cisco ISE side, the output.zip will be placed in /tmp/ and all its content will be extracted to /opt/CSCOcpm/ folder. 

The isehourlycron.sh runs as root several times within an hour. Allowing for remote code execution as ROOT.

File Snapshot

Remarks

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