High severity · published May 7, 2025
CVE-2025-20199
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating…
8.2
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation when processing specific configuration commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including crafted input in specific configuration commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. The security impact rating (SIR) of this advisory has been raised to High because an attacker could gain access to the underlying operating system of the affected device and perform potentially undetected actions.
Note: The attacker must have privileges to enter configuration mode on the affected device. This is usually referred to as privilege level 15.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
High
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 6% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
IX
IOS XE · Cisco
3.2.0se; 3.2.1se; 3.2.2se; 3.2.3se; 3.3.0se; 3.3.1se; +34 more · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20199
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20199
Vendor Advisory
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-privesc-su7scvdp
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