CVE-2025-20155

Arbitrary file writes via invalid bootstrap input

Published May 7, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Arbitrary file write in Cisco IOS XE Software allows local users with high privileges to alter system files via a crafted bootstrap file. The bootstrap loader insufficiently validates a Catalyst SD-WAN Manager-generated file before the system software consumes it. Exploitation requires placing the modified file in device flash and then reloading a green-field SD-WAN deployment or enabling SD-Routing, resulting in arbitrary writes to the underlying operating system.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file write in Cisco IOS XE Software allows local users with high privileges to alter system files via a crafted bootstrap file. The bootstrap loader insufficiently validates a Catalyst SD-WAN Manager-generated file before the system software consumes it. Exploitation requires placing the modified file in device flash and then reloading a green-field SD-WAN deployment or enabling SD-Routing, resulting in arbitrary writes to the underlying operating system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-20155
Published
May 7, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco IOS XE Software
Classifications
CWE-1287, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=17.11.99SW
  2. Affected versionversion=17.12.1
  3. Affected versionversion=17.12.1a
  4. Affected versionversion=17.12.1w
  5. Affected versionversion=17.12.1x
  6. Affected versionversion=17.12.1y
  7. Affected versionversion=17.12.1z
  8. Affected versionversion=17.12.1z1
  9. Affected versionversion=17.12.2
  10. Affected versionversion=17.12.2a
  11. Affected versionversion=17.12.3
  12. Affected versionversion=17.12.3a
  13. Affected versionversion=17.12.4
  14. Affected versionversion=17.12.4a
  15. Affected versionversion=17.12.4b
  16. Affected versionversion=17.13.1
  17. Affected versionversion=17.13.1a
  18. Affected versionversion=17.14.1
  19. Affected versionversion=17.14.1a
  20. Affected versionversion=17.9.4
  21. Affected versionversion=17.9.4a
  22. Affected versionversion=17.9.5
  23. Affected versionversion=17.9.5a
  24. Affected versionversion=17.9.5b
  25. Affected versionversion=17.9.5e
  26. Affected versionversion=17.9.5f
  27. Affected versionversion=17.9.6
  28. Affected versionversion=17.9.6a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco IOS XE Softwareversion=17.11.99SW; version=17.12.1; version=17.12.1a; version=17.12.1w; version=17.12.1x; version=17.12.1y; version=17.12.1z; version=17.12.1z1; version=17.12.2; version=17.12.2a; version=17.12.3; version=17.12.3a; version=17.12.4; version=17.12.4a; version=17.12.4b; version=17.13.1; version=17.13.1a; version=17.14.1; version=17.14.1a; version=17.9.4; version=17.9.4a; version=17.9.5; version=17.9.5a; version=17.9.5b; version=17.9.5e; version=17.9.5f; version=17.9.6; version=17.9.6a

Published CVSS scores

6.0CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1287Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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