Cisco Warns of Critical ISE Security Flaw

By Netvora Tech News

Cisco has issued a warning to organizations of a critical vulnerability in its Identity Services Engine (ISE), which allows an unauthenticated attacker to gain remote access to sensitive data, execute administrative actions, modify system configurations, or disrupt system functionality. The impact of the flaw, identified as CVE-2025-20286, has been rated 9.9 out of 10.

What is the ISE Vulnerability?

The ISE is a network access control solution that enables organizations to manage which endpoints, users, and devices can access their network. The vulnerability occurs when the login credentials for Cisco ISE are incorrectly generated when deployed on cloud platforms from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. As a result, multiple Cisco ISE installations use the same password.

Exploitation and Consequences

An attacker can discover this password in their own installation and then use it to gain access to other Cisco ISE installations. This allows for unauthorized access to sensitive data, administrative actions, system configuration modifications, or disruption of system functionality.

Cisco's Response

Cisco has released updates to address the issue. The company has also warned that public proof-of-concept exploit code for the vulnerability is available, but has not yet detected any misuse.

Organizational Action Required

Organizations using Cisco ISE should apply the latest updates immediately.
Users should ensure that their ISE installations are properly configured and secure.
Regularly monitor system logs for signs of unauthorized activity.

By taking swift action to address this critical vulnerability, organizations can minimize the risk of exploitation and protect their sensitive data and systems.