// For flags

CVE-2025-20337

Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerability

Severity Score

10.0
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

1
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

Yes
*KEV

Decision

Act
*SSVC
Descriptions

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.

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Cisco Identity Services Engine. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the implementation of the enableStrongSwanTunnel method. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the iseadminportal user.

Cisco Identity Services Engine contains an injection vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input allowing an attacker to exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted API request. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to perform remote code execution and obtaining root privileges on an affected device.

*Credits: Kentaro Kawane of GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Act
Exploitation
Active
Automatable
Yes
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-10-10 CVE Reserved
  • 2025-07-16 CVE Published
  • 2025-07-21 First Exploit
  • 2025-07-28 Exploited in Wild
  • 2025-07-30 CVE Updated
  • 2025-08-17 EPSS Updated
  • 2025-08-18 KEV Due Date
CWE
  • CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software"
 3.3.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software" and version "3.3.0"
en
Affected
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software"
 3.4.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software" and version "3.4.0"
en
Affected
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector"
 3.2.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector" and version "3.2.0"
en
Affected
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector"
 3.1.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector" and version "3.1.0"
en
Affected
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector"
 3.3.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector" and version "3.3.0"
en
Affected
Cisco
Search vendor "Cisco"
 Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector"
 3.4.0
Search vendor "Cisco" for product "Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector" and version "3.4.0"
en
Affected