Cisco has identified and addressed two critical security vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on affected systems. These vulnerabilities, designated as CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20282, each carry a maximum Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score of 10.0, underscoring their severity and potential impact on enterprise network security infrastructure.
Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2025-20281):
CVE-2025-20281 affects Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC versions 3.3 and later. This vulnerability resides in a specific API endpoint and results from insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker can exploit this flaw by submitting a crafted API request without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) as CWE-74, which pertains to the improper neutralization of special elements in output.
The attack vector for CVE-2025-20281 is network-based, with low attack complexity and no need for user interaction. Attackers can craft malicious API requests that bypass input validation controls, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands on the target system.
Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability (CVE-2025-20282):
CVE-2025-20282 specifically affects Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Release 3.4. This vulnerability exists in an internal API and allows attackers to upload arbitrary files to affected devices. The flaw arises from a lack of file validation checks, permitting uploaded files to be placed in privileged directories on the system. Once malicious files are uploaded, attackers can execute them on the underlying operating system with root privileges.
Exploitation of CVE-2025-20282 involves uploading crafted files through the vulnerable internal API. The absence of proper file validation allows attackers to place malicious executables in privileged system directories, leading to code execution with elevated privileges. The CVSS vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates maximum impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains.
Implications and Risks:
Both vulnerabilities enable unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), meaning attackers do not need to bypass authentication mechanisms or obtain valid credentials before launching attacks. This significantly increases the risk of exploitation, as attackers can remotely execute commands with root privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The discovery of these vulnerabilities highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing robust security measures to protect enterprise environments. Organizations using Cisco ISE should act promptly to apply the recommended updates and safeguard their infrastructure against potential attacks.
Mitigation Measures:
Cisco has released software updates addressing both vulnerabilities, with no available workarounds to mitigate the security risks. For CVE-2025-20281, affected ISE 3.3 installations require 3.3 Patch 6, while ISE 3.4 installations require 3.4 Patch 2. For CVE-2025-20282, affected ISE 3.4 installations require 3.4 Patch 2. Administrators are strongly advised to apply these patches immediately to protect their systems from potential exploitation.
Recommendations:
1. Immediate Patch Application: Organizations should promptly apply the patches provided by Cisco to address these vulnerabilities.
2. System Monitoring: Implement continuous monitoring of network systems to detect any unusual activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.
3. Access Controls: Review and strengthen access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.
4. Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly update incident response plans to ensure swift action in the event of a security breach.
By taking these steps, organizations can enhance their security posture and mitigate the risks associated with these critical vulnerabilities.
