Is CVE-2025-20143 being actively exploited?

CVE-2025-20143 is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-20143?

CVE-2025-20143 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.7 (MEDIUM).

CVE-2025-20143

MEDIUM · CVSS 6.7EPSS 0.1%EU EUVD

A vulnerability in the boot process of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with high privileges to bypass the Secure Boot functionality and load unverified software on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have root-system privileges on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient verification of modules in the software load process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the loaded binaries to bypass some of the integrity checks that are performed during the booting process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to control the boot configuration, which could enable them to bypass the requirement to run Cisco-signed images or alter the security properties of the running system. Note: This vulnerability affects Cisco IOS XR Software, not the Secure Boot feature. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Key facts

CVSS score: 6.7 (v3.1)
Severity: MEDIUM
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-347
EPSS score: 0.1% (1th percentile)
In CISA KEV: No
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2025-6452)
Published: March 12, 2025
NVD last modified: June 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2025-6452 in the EU Vulnerability Database. Last updated in EUVD on February 26, 2026.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

cisco / ios xr

Certified products that may be affected

1 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified product, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Cisco Network Convergence System 540, 5500 and 5700 (NCS540, NCS5500, NCS5700) Series running IOS-XR, version 7.4.1 - Cisco Systems, Inc. - Common Criteria NSCIB-CC-23-0597525-CR - active

References

https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/(Technical Description)
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sb-lkm-zNErZjbZ(Vendor Advisory)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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