---
id: CVE-2025-20198
title: "A vulnerability\_in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.\r\n\r This vulnerability is due…"
summary: "A vulnerability\_in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.\r\n\r This vulnerability is due…"
severity: medium
cvss: 4.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-754
vendor: Cisco
product: Cisco IOS XE Software
affected:
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.0S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.1S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.2S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.3S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.4S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.5S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.2aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.0aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.5aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.6S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.7S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.6aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.7aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.8S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.9S
  - ios_xe_software 3.13.10S
  - ios_xe_software 3.14.0S
  - ios_xe_software 3.14.1S
  - ios_xe_software 3.14.2S
  - ios_xe_software 3.14.3S
  - ios_xe_software 3.14.4S
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.0S
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.1S
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.2S
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.1cS
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.3S
  - ios_xe_software 3.15.4S
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.0E
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.1E
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.2E
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.3E
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.4E
  - ios_xe_software 3.7.5E
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.0S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.1S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.1aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.2S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.2aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.0cS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.3S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.2bS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.3aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.4S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.4aS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.4bS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.5S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.4dS
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.6S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.7S
  - ios_xe_software 3.16.6bS
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2025-05-08T03:56:21.775784Z'
published: '2025-05-07'
updated: '2026-11-03'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-03T22:02:52.362Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20198'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-privesc-su7scvdp
    label: cisco-sa-iosxe-privesc-su7scvdp
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00167
epssPercentile: 0.05978
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T20:33:06.534Z'
---

## Overview

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with privilege level 15 to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.

 This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation when processing specific configuration commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including crafted input in specific configuration commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. The security impact rating (SIR) of this advisory has been raised to High because an attacker could gain access to the underlying operating system of the affected device and perform potentially undetected actions.

 Note: The attacker must have privileges to enter configuration mode on the affected device. This is usually referred to as privilege level 15.

## Affected

- `ios_xe_software 3.13.0S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.1S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.2S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.3S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.4S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.5S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.2aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.0aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.5aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.6S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.7S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.6aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.7aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.8S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.9S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.13.10S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.14.0S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.14.1S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.14.2S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.14.3S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.14.4S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.0S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.1S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.2S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.1cS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.3S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.15.4S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.0E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.1E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.2E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.3E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.4E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.7.5E`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.0S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.1S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.1aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.2S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.2aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.0cS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.3S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.2bS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.3aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.4S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.4aS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.4bS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.5S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.4dS`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.6S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.7S`
- `ios_xe_software 3.16.6bS`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.