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Full vulnerability report · 2025
CVE-2025-20311High confidence

Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software: security vulnerability

Cisco · Cisco IOS XE Software

Official source article: Cisco CISCO-SA-CAT9K-PTMD7BGY ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.

7.4HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Within 7 days

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Fix not verified
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:High, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 0.20% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 30 daysRemediation target: Within 180 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2025-31032

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 7 days

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Fix not verified
01

What, why and how

A vulnerability in the handling of certain Ethernet frames in Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause an egress port to become blocked and drop all outbound traffic. This vulnerability is due to improper handling of crafted Ethernet frames. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted Ethernet frames through an affected switch. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the egress port to which the crafted frame is forwarded to start dropping all frames, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

What

A vulnerability in the handling of certain Ethernet frames in Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause an egress port to become blocked and drop all outbound traffic. This vulnerability is due to improper handling of crafted Ethernet frames. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted Ethernet frames through an affected switch. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the egress port to which the crafted frame is forwarded to start dropping all frames, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

What

A vulnerability in the handling of certain Ethernet frames in Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause an egress port to become blocked and drop all outbound traffic. This vulnerability is due to improper handling of crafted Ethernet frames. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted Ethernet frames through an affected switch. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the egress port to which the crafted frame is forwarded to start dropping all frames, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
an adjacent network → vulnerable operation → disrupt the affected service
Attack surface
Adjacent
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Changed: exploitation can affect a different security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-19 ↗

CWE-19. Open the MITRE definition for the exact weakness description.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVAdjacentAttack vector: The attacker must be on an adjacent or logically close network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SChangedScope: The attack can affect a component governed by a different security authority.CNoneConfidentiality impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
UnauthenticatedDenial of serviceCWE-19
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

BSI · German · WID-SEC-2025-2128Cisco IOS XE: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Cisco IOS XE ausnutzen, um Informationen offenzulegen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu verursachen und Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20251001Security Bulletin 01 Oct 2025

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 01 Oct 2025, published on 1 October 2025. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2025-AVI-0818Multiples vulnérabilités dans Cisco IOS et IOS XE

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans Cisco IOS et IOS XE. Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire à distance, un déni de service à distance et un contournement de la politique de sécurité. Cisco indique que la vulnérabilité CVE-2025-20352 est activement exploitée.

Official advisory ↗
NCSC-NL · Dutch · NCSC-2025-0297Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Cisco IOS en Cisco IOS XE Software

A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Series Switches allows unauthenticated adjacent attackers to cause a denial of service by blocking an egress port through crafted Ethernet frames.

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Fix not verified
Affected
Cisco IOS XE Software: 16.6.1, 16.6.2, 16.6.3, 16.6.4, 16.6.5, 16.6.4a, 16.6.6, 16.6.7, 16.6.8, 16.6.9, 16.6.10, 16.7.1, 16.8.1, 16.8.1a, 16.8.1s, 16.9.1, 16.9.2, 16.9.1s, 16.9.3, 16.9.4, 16.9.5, 16.9.6, 16.9.7, 16.9.8, 16.10.1, 16.10.1s, 16.10.1e, 16.11.1, 16.11.1b, 16.11.1s, 16.12.1, 16.12.1s, 16.12.1c, 16.12.2, 16.12.3, 16.12.8, 16.12.2s, 16.12.4, 16.12.3s, 16.12.3a, 16.12.4a, 16.12.5, 16.12.6, 16.12.5b, 16.12.6a, 16.12.7, 16.12.14, 17.1.1, 17.1.1s, 17.1.1t, 17.1.3, 17.2.1, 17.2.1a, 17.3.1, 17.3.2, 17.3.3, 17.3.2a, 17.3.4, 17.3.5, 17.3.6, 17.3.4b, 17.3.7, 17.3.8, 17.3.8a, 17.4.1, 17.5.1, 17.6.1, 17.6.2, 17.6.3, 17.6.1y, 17.6.4, 17.6.5, 17.6.6, 17.6.6a, 17.6.5a, 17.6.7, 17.6.8, 17.7.1, 17.10.1, 17.10.1b, 17.8.1, 17.9.1, 17.9.2, 17.9.3, 17.9.4, 17.9.5, 17.9.4a, 17.9.6, 17.9.6a, 17.11.1, 17.12.1, 17.12.2, 17.12.3, 17.12.4, 17.12.1z3, 17.13.1, 17.14.1, 17.11.99SW, 17.15.1, 17.15.2, 17.15.2a, 17.15.2b, 17.16.1
Fixed
No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
Action
No verified patch reference is present in the current structured sources. Check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 24 Sept 2025 · Last source change 30 Sept 2025, 14:28 UTC · CWE-19

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-31032
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added vendor advisory: sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/cisco-sa-cat9k-PtmD7bgy.
    Before
    no authoritative guidance recorded
    After
    vendor advisory: sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/cisco-sa-cat9k-PtmD7bgy
    psirt@cisco.com ↗
  2. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    16.6.1; 16.6.2; 16.6.3; 16.6.4; 16.6.5; 16.6.4a; 16.6.6; 16.6.7 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    Cisco IOS XE Software: 16.6.1, 16.6.2, 16.6.3, 16.6.4, 16.6.5, 16.6.4a, 16.6.6, 16.6.7, 16.6.8, 16.6.9, 16.6.10, 16.7.1, 16.8.1, 16.8.1a, 16.8.1s, 16.9.1, 16.9.2, 16.9.1s, 16.9.3, 16.9.4, 16.9.5, 16.9.6, 16.9.7, 16.9.8, 16.10.1, 16.10.1s, 16.10.1e, 16.11.1, 16.11.1b, 16.11.1s, 16.12.1, 16.12.1s, 16.12.1c, 16.12.2, 16.12.3, 16.12.8, 16.12.2s, 16.12.4, 16.12.3s, 16.12.3a, 16.12.4a, 16.12.5, 16.12.6, 16.12.5b, 16.12.6a, 16.12.7, 16.12.14, 17.1.1, 17.1.1s, 17.1.1t, 17.1.3, 17.2.1, 17.2.1a, 17.3.1, 17.3.2, 17.3.3, 17.3.2a, 17.3.4, 17.3.5, 17.3.6, 17.3.4b, 17.3.7, 17.3.8, 17.3.8a, 17.4.1, 17.5.1, 17.6.1, 17.6.2, 17.6.3, 17.6.1y, 17.6.4, 17.6.5, 17.6.6, 17.6.6a, 17.6.5a, 17.6.7, 17.6.8, 17.7.1, 17.10.1, 17.10.1b, 17.8.1, 17.9.1, 17.9.2, 17.9.3, 17.9.4, 17.9.5, 17.9.4a, 17.9.6, 17.9.6a, 17.11.1, 17.12.1, 17.12.2, 17.12.3, 17.12.4, 17.12.1z3, 17.13.1, 17.14.1, 17.11.99SW, 17.15.1, 17.15.2, 17.15.2a, 17.15.2b, 17.16.1 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-31032↗CVE authority or vendor reference · Cisco CISCO-SA-CAT9K-PTMD7BGY↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2025-20311 · cve.blacktree.nl