Full Report
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Cisco security products that could allow for arbitrary code execution.Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) is a centralized management solution for Cisco Secure Firewall devices, enabling policy control, event monitoring, and threat analysis.Cisco Firepower 2100 Series is a family of threat-focused firewalls designed for high-performance security and visibility across enterprise networks.Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software is a firewall software platform that delivers advanced threat protection, VPN services, and access control.Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software is an integrated threat management solution combining firewall, IPS, and malware protection capabilities.Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a policy-based access control and identity management system that enforces network segmentation and compliance.Cisco IOS Software is the foundational operating system for Cisco networking devices, providing routing, switching, and network services.Cisco IOS XE Software is a modular and programmable network OS designed for enterprise-grade routers and switches with enhanced automation and security features. Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow for arbitrary code execution in the context of the user associated with the service. Depending on the privileges associated with the account, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.
Analysis Summary
# Vulnerability: Arbitrary Code Execution in Cisco Security Products via Multiple Flaws
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-20265 (Most Severe Cited)
- CVSS Score: Details not specified in summary, but **arbitrary code execution (ACE)** implies High/Critical severity.
- CWE: Not explicitly listed for CVE-2025-20265, but related to injection.
## Affected Systems
- Products:
- Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software
- Firepower 2100 Series Firewalls
- Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software
- Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software
- Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
- Cisco IOS Software
- Cisco IOS XE Software
- Versions:
- FMC Software: Releases 7.0.7 and 7.7.0
- Other products: Affected based on specific configuration criteria; users must consult vendor advisories.
- Configurations: Vulnerabilities are contingent upon certain configuration criteria being met.
## Vulnerability Description
Multiple vulnerabilities exist across several Cisco products, the most severe allowing for **Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE)**.
**CVE-2025-20265 (ACE):** A flaw in the **RADIUS subsystem implementation** of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands that are subsequently executed by the device.
Other disclosed vulnerabilities include low-severity flaws leading to Denial of Service (DoS) conditions in FTD, ASA Software, and FMC, as well as an HTML injection flaw (XSS) in FMC's web interface.
## Exploitation
- Status: **Not exploited in the wild** (As of 08/15/2025).
- Complexity: Not explicitly stated, but ACE via a public-facing or infrastructural service (RADIUS) suggests potentially manageable complexity for skilled attackers.
- Attack Vector: **Network** (for the most severe ACE vulnerability).
## Impact
ACE exploitation allows an attacker to:
- Install programs.
- View, change, or delete data.
- Create new user accounts with full rights.
The final impact is contingent on the privileges of the user context under which the service runs. Administrative accounts face the highest impact (full system compromise).
- Confidentiality: High (Potential data exposure/theft)
- Integrity: High (Potential data modification/system tampering)
- Availability: Medium/High (DoS vulnerabilities also present, causing device reloads or service disruption)
## Remediation
### Patches
Specific patches are not detailed in this summary document, but users are directed to consult the official Cisco Security Advisories (provided in references) for specific version updates and fixes.
### Workarounds
No specific workarounds are detailed in this summary excerpt. Users should consult vendor advisories for immediate mitigation steps if patching is not possible.
## Detection
- Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): Not explicitly listed, but network traffic abnormalities targeting the RADIUS subsystem endpoint on FMC devices should be investigated.
- Detection methods and tools: Monitoring for unauthorized command execution attempts or unexpected system behavior after communication with the RADIUS subsystem on FMC.
## References
- Cisco Advisory: `cisco-sa-fmc-xss-infodisc-RL4mJFer`
- Cisco Advisory: `cisco-sa-asaftd-tls13-dos-9h38M37Z`
- Cisco Advisory: `cisco-sa-asaftd-vpnweb2-dos-9h38M37Z`
- Cisco Advisory: `cisco-sa-fmc-authz-bypass2-M7xhnAu`