CVE-2025-20181
What it is
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS Software for Cisco Catalyst 2960X, 2960XR, 2960CX, and 3560CX Series Switches could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 or an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to the device to execute persistent code at boot time and break the chain of trust. This vulnerability is due to missing signature verification for specific files that may be loaded during the device boot process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a crafted file into a specific location on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code at boot time. Because this allows the attacker to bypass a major security feature of the device, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited with physical access without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 6.8 MEDIUM (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-347
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)ex
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)ey
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)ey1
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)ey2
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)xo
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(1\)xo1
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(2\)ex
- Cisco iOS 15.0\(2\)ex1
Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 6.8
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2025-20181.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-20181. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
