---
id: "CVE-2025-20281"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2025-20281"]
title: "A vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 10.0
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Cisco Identity Services Engine", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "cisco identity services engine", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.3.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "cisco identity services engine", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.4.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "cisco identity services engine passive identity connector", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.3.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "cisco identity services engine passive identity connector", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.4.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["cisco-ise", "exploited", "infrastructure", "network-access-control", "on-prem"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2025-06-25T16:15:26+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-20281", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# A vulnerability in a specific API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to…

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC have an injection flaw in a specific API that does not validate user input. A remote attacker who sends a crafted API request can run commands and gain root on the device.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Cisco Identity Services Engine affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:cisco identity services engine affected = 3.3.0 fixed ?
- vendor:cisco identity services engine affected = 3.4.0 fixed ?
- vendor:cisco identity services engine passive identity connector affected = 3.3.0 fixed ?
- vendor:cisco identity services engine passive identity connector affected = 3.4.0 fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the mitigations and fixed release from Cisco's advisory, as CISA requires; the sources do not name the fixed version.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-20281
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20281

## From the sources

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.

CISA required 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.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_