CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2025-20283 — Cisco Identity Services Engine security vulnerability

High CVSS 7.2

A vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system as root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker with valid credentials could exploit this vulnerability by submitting a crafted API request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands as the root user. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid high-privileged credentials.

Severity
High
CVSS
7.2 (3.1)
Published
2025-07-16
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-74

Affected products

  • cisco / identity_services_engine
  • cisco / identity_services_engine / 3.3.0
  • cisco / identity_services_engine / 3.4.0
  • cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector
  • cisco / identity_services_engine_passive_identity_connector / 3.3.0

Showing 5 representative product identities from 20 source matches. Confirm exact affected versions with the linked vendor and NVD evidence.

Matched remediation archetype

Command, code, expression, and template injection

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Check exposure

  • Trace untrusted values to process execution, interpreters, evaluators, template engines, dynamic imports, and administrative scripting features.
  • Determine whether the affected path is reachable across each trust boundary and which service account or host privilege it inherits.
  • Review configuration for optional execution features, unsafe compatibility modes, and shell invocation.

Remediate safely

  • Replace string-built commands or evaluated code with fixed operations and structured argument APIs that do not invoke a shell.
  • Use strict allowlists for operation identifiers and reject unexpected input before it reaches any interpreter.
  • Update the affected component and add inert regression tests covering metacharacters, encoding variants, and alternate request paths.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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