CVE-2025-20138
highpriority · track · 0EPSS 0.002 · 14 %ileDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco IOS XR Softwarecisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (115)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2025-0553Cisco IOS XR: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2025-03-12csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Cisco IOS XR ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand herbeizuführen, erhöhte Rechte zu erlangen, beliebigen Code auszuführen und Daten zu manipulieren.
- cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOFCisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability2025-03-12csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. This advisory is part of the March 2025 release of the Cisco IOS XR Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: March 2025 Semiannual Cisco IOS XR Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/viewErp.x?alertId=ERP-75548"].
also known as (4)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/cnnvd
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOFcnnvd
- https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/enisa_euvd
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOFenisa_euvd
- https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/Technical Descriptionnvd
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOFVendor Advisorynvd
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