CVE-2025-20138: ios xr Command Injection — Fix

Description

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

8.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-78 OS Command Injection

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
cisco	ios_xr	< 24.2.21
cisco	ios_xr	24.3 — 24.4

References

Advisories & Patches

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOF

Other References

https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-20138? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-20138? +

CVE-2025-20138 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-20138? +

CVE-2025-20138 affects products from cisco, specifically: ios_xr. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-20138? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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