Unsigned image loading via incomplete boot validation
Published Mar 12, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Image verification bypass in Cisco IOS XR Software allows local users with root-system privileges to load unverified software. The boot verification process incompletely validates files, so manipulated system configuration options bypass integrity checks during startup. Root-system access is required; successful exploitation grants control of boot configuration, enabling unsigned images or altered security properties.
Summary
What happened
Image verification bypass in Cisco IOS XR Software allows local users with root-system privileges to load unverified software. The boot verification process incompletely validates files, so manipulated system configuration options bypass integrity checks during startup. Root-system access is required; successful exploitation grants control of boot configuration, enabling unsigned images or altered security properties.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-20177
- Published
- Mar 12, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- ClamAV
- Product
- Cisco IOS XR Software
- Classifications
- CWE-274, T1542
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=24.1.1
- Affected versionversion=24.1.2
- Affected versionversion=24.2.1
- Affected versionversion=24.2.11
- Affected versionversion=24.3.1
- Affected versionversion=6.7.1
- Affected versionversion=6.7.2
- Affected versionversion=6.7.3
- Affected versionversion=6.7.35
- Affected versionversion=6.7.4
- Affected versionversion=6.8.1
- Affected versionversion=6.8.2
- Affected versionversion=6.9.1
- Affected versionversion=6.9.2
- Affected versionversion=7.0.0
- Affected versionversion=7.0.1
- Affected versionversion=7.0.11
- Affected versionversion=7.0.12
- Affected versionversion=7.0.14
- Affected versionversion=7.0.2
- Affected versionversion=7.0.90
- Affected versionversion=7.10.1
- Affected versionversion=7.10.2
- Affected versionversion=7.1.1
- Affected versionversion=7.11.1
- Affected versionversion=7.11.2
- Affected versionversion=7.1.15
- Affected versionversion=7.1.2
- Affected versionversion=7.1.25
- Affected versionversion=7.1.3
- Affected versionversion=7.2.0
- Affected versionversion=7.2.1
- Affected versionversion=7.2.12
- Affected versionversion=7.2.2
- Affected versionversion=7.3.1
- Affected versionversion=7.3.15
- Affected versionversion=7.3.16
- Affected versionversion=7.3.2
- Affected versionversion=7.3.27
- Affected versionversion=7.3.3
- Affected versionversion=7.3.4
- Affected versionversion=7.3.5
- Affected versionversion=7.3.6
- Affected versionversion=7.4.1
- Affected versionversion=7.4.15
- Affected versionversion=7.4.16
- Affected versionversion=7.4.2
- Affected versionversion=7.5.1
- Affected versionversion=7.5.12
- Affected versionversion=7.5.2
- Affected versionversion=7.5.3
- Affected versionversion=7.5.4
- Affected versionversion=7.5.5
- Affected versionversion=7.6.1
- Affected versionversion=7.6.15
- Affected versionversion=7.6.2
- Affected versionversion=7.6.3
- Affected versionversion=7.7.1
- Affected versionversion=7.7.2
- Affected versionversion=7.7.21
- Affected versionversion=7.8.1
- Affected versionversion=7.8.2
- Affected versionversion=7.8.22
- Affected versionversion=7.8.23
- Affected versionversion=7.9.1
- Affected versionversion=7.9.2
- Affected versionversion=7.9.21
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo