Cisco IOS XE Software Secure Boot Bypass (cisco-sa-secboot-UqFD8AvC)

medium Nessus Plugin ID 265805

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Synopsis

The remote device is missing a vendor-supplied security patch

Description

According to its self-reported version, Cisco IOS-XE Software is affected by multiple vulnerabilities.

- 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 (CVE-2025-20313)

- A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with level-15 privileges or an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device to execute persistent code at boot time and break the chain of trust. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of software packages. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a crafted file into a specific location on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute persistent code on the underlying operating system. Because this vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass a major security feature of a device, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High. (CVE-2025-20314)

Please see the included Cisco BIDs and Cisco Security Advisory for more information.

Solution

Upgrade to the relevant fixed version referenced in Cisco bug IDs CSCwo38903, CSCwo38924

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 265805

File Name: cisco-sa-secboot-UqFD8AvC-iosxe.nasl

Version: 1.4

Type: combined

Family: CISCO

Published: 9/24/2025

Updated: 10/17/2025

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 7.4

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.5

Temporal Score: 4.8

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:M/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2025-20313

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.7

Temporal Score: 5.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:cisco:ios_xe

Required KB Items: Host/Cisco/IOS-XE/Version

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 9/24/2025

Vulnerability Publication Date: 9/24/2025

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2025-20313, CVE-2025-20314

CWE: 232, 35

CISCO-SA: cisco-sa-secboot-UqFD8AvC

IAVA: 2025-A-0701, 2025-A-0773

CISCO-BUG-ID: CSCwo38903, CSCwo38924

Detections

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