How to fix CVE-2025-20159?

Within 30 days: Identify affected systems and apply vendor patches as part of regular patch cycle. Monitor vendor channels for patch availability.

Is Cisco affected by CVE-2025-20159?

CVE-2025-20159 presents moderate security risk, a improper access control vulnerability rated CVSS 5.3. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.

CVE-2025-20159

MEDIUM

2025-09-10 [email protected]

5.3

CVSS 3.1

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

Low

Availability

None

Lifecycle Timeline

Analysis Generated

Mar 28, 2026 - 19:11 vuln.today

CVE Published

Sep 10, 2025 - 16:15 nvd

MEDIUM 5.3

Description

A vulnerability in the management interface access control list (ACL) processing feature in Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass configured ACLs for the SSH, NetConf, and gRPC features. This vulnerability exists because management interface ACLs have not been supported on Cisco IOS XR Software Packet I/O infrastructure platforms for Linux-handled features such as SSH, NetConf, or gRPC. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by attempting to send traffic to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass an ingress ACL that is applied on the management interface of the affected device.

Analysis

A vulnerability in the management interface access control list (ACL) processing feature in Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass configured ACLs for the. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

Technical Context

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284. A vulnerability in the management interface access control list (ACL) processing feature in Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass configured ACLs for the SSH, NetConf, and gRPC features. This vulnerability exists because management interface ACLs have not been supported on Cisco IOS XR Software Packet I/O infrastructure platforms for Linux-handled features such as SSH, NetConf, or gRPC. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by attempting to send traffic to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass an ingress ACL that is applied on the management interface of the affected device.

Affected Products

Cisco IOS XR Software.

Remediation

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +0.0

CVSS: +26

POC: 0

CVE-2025-20159 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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CVE-2025-20159

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CVE-2025-20159

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Lifecycle Timeline

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Description

Analysis

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