{
  "id": "CVE-2025-20281",
  "url": "https://spydr.io/cve/CVE-2025-20281",
  "published": "2025-06-25T16:15:26.017Z",
  "modified": "2026-06-17T08:41:19.980Z",
  "score": 10,
  "severity": "critical",
  "cvss_version": "3.1",
  "vector": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
  "score_source": "cisco.com",
  "epss": 0.97601,
  "epss_percentile": 0.99902,
  "exploited": true,
  "kev": {
    "added": "2025-07-28",
    "due": "2025-08-18",
    "action": "Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.",
    "ransomware": "Unknown",
    "name": "Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection Vulnerability",
    "notes": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281"
  },
  "ssvc_exploitation": "active",
  "vendors": [
    "Cisco"
  ],
  "products": [
    "Cisco Identity Services Engine Software"
  ],
  "cwes": [
    "CWE-74"
  ],
  "description": "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.",
  "status": "Analyzed",
  "score_type": "Secondary",
  "scores": {
    "cvss_v40": null,
    "cvss_v31": 10,
    "cvss_v30": null
  },
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-unauth-rce-ZAd2GnJ6",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ]
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20281",
      "tags": [
        "US Government Resource"
      ]
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2025/7/24/cve-2025-20281-cisco-ise-api-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "nvd_url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281",
  "covered_in": [],
  "attribution": [
    {
      "source": "NVD",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov",
      "notice": "This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD."
    },
    {
      "source": "CISA KEV",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog",
      "notice": "Known exploited vulnerabilities from the CISA KEV catalog."
    },
    {
      "source": "FIRST EPSS",
      "url": "https://www.first.org/epss",
      "notice": "Exploit prediction scores from FIRST EPSS."
    }
  ]
}