---
id: CVE-2025-20138
title: Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (CVE-2025-20138)
summary: "A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.\r\n\r\nThis vulnerability is due to insufficient v…"
severity: high
cvss: 8.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
vendor: Cisco
product: Cisco IOS XR Software
affected:
  - ios_xr_software
published: '2025-03-12'
updated: '2025-03-12'
sourceUpdated: '2025-03-12T16:00:00+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: >-
  https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOF
references:
  - url: >-
      https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOF
  - url: 'https://software.cisco.com'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vendor-advisory
  - cisco
epss: 0.00231
epssPercentile: 0.13874
ingestedAt: '2026-10-15T11:50:11.854Z'
---

## Overview

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands.

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.



This advisory is part of the March 2025 release of the Cisco IOS XR Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: March 2025 Semiannual Cisco IOS XR Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/viewErp.x?alertId=ERP-75548"].

## Vendor advisories

- **cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOF** · Cisco · affected: Cisco IOS XR Software · updated 2025-03-12 · [advisory](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-priv-esc-GFQjxvOF)

**Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability**. Released 2025-03-12.

Affected:

- Cisco IOS XR Software

## Remediation

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. https://software.cisco.com