Cisco IOS XE up to 17.17.1 path traversal

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Cisco IOS XE. Affected is an unknown function. The manipulation results in path traversal. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-20313. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Cisco IOS XE. Affected is an unknown code block. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-35. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize '.../...//' (doubled triple dot slash) sequences that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco IOS XE Software of could allow an authenticated, local attacker with level-15 privileges or an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to the device to execute persistent code at boot time and break the chain of trust. These vulnerabilities are due path traversal and improper image integrity validation. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute persistent code on the underlying operating system. 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. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details ["#details"] section of this advisory. ERP

The advisory is shared for download at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-20313 since 10/10/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are needed for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/25/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1006.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-31029). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 6.7
VulDB Temp Score: 6.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 6.7
CNA Vector (cisco): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Path traversal
CWE: CWE-35 / CWE-23 / CWE-22
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

10/10/2024 CVE reserved
09/24/2025 +349 days Advisory disclosed
09/24/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/25/2025 +1 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-secboot-UqFD8AvC
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-20313 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-20313
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-325764
EUVD: 🔒
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150108

Entryinfo

Created: 09/24/2025 19:29
Updated: 09/25/2025 08:29
Changes: 09/24/2025 19:29 (63), 09/25/2025 08:29 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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