CVE-2025-20177

Cisco IOS XR Software Image Verification Bypass Vulnerability

Published Mar 12, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 6.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

A vulnerability in the boot process of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco IOS XR image signature verification 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 incomplete validation of files in the boot verification process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the system configuration options to bypass some of the integrity checks that are performed during the boot 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: Because exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the attacker bypassing Cisco image verification, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Cisco

Cisco IOS XR Software

unknown

Version	Status	Constraints
`7.0.1`	affected	—
`7.0.0`	affected	—
`7.1.1`	affected	—
`7.0.90`	affected	—
`6.7.1`	affected	—
`7.0.2`	affected	—
`7.1.15`	affected	—
`7.2.0`	affected	—
`7.2.1`	affected	—
`7.1.2`	affected	—
`6.7.2`	affected	—
`7.0.11`	affected	—
`7.0.12`	affected	—
`7.0.14`	affected	—
`7.1.25`	affected	—
`7.2.12`	affected	—
`7.3.1`	affected	—
`7.1.3`	affected	—
`6.7.3`	affected	—
`7.4.1`	affected	—
`7.2.2`	affected	—
`6.7.4`	affected	—
`7.3.15`	affected	—
`7.3.16`	affected	—
`6.8.1`	affected	—
`7.4.15`	affected	—
`7.3.2`	affected	—
`7.5.1`	affected	—
`7.4.16`	affected	—
`7.3.27`	affected	—
`7.6.1`	affected	—
`7.5.2`	affected	—
`7.8.1`	affected	—
`7.6.15`	affected	—
`7.5.12`	affected	—
`7.3.3`	affected	—
`7.7.1`	affected	—
`6.8.2`	affected	—
`7.3.4`	affected	—
`7.4.2`	affected	—
`6.7.35`	affected	—
`6.9.1`	affected	—
`7.6.2`	affected	—
`7.5.3`	affected	—
`7.7.2`	affected	—
`6.9.2`	affected	—
`7.9.1`	affected	—
`7.10.1`	affected	—
`7.8.2`	affected	—
`7.5.4`	affected	—
`7.8.22`	affected	—
`7.7.21`	affected	—
`7.9.2`	affected	—
`7.3.5`	affected	—
`7.5.5`	affected	—
`7.11.1`	affected	—
`7.9.21`	affected	—
`7.10.2`	affected	—
`24.1.1`	affected	—
`7.6.3`	affected	—
`7.3.6`	affected	—
`7.11.2`	affected	—
`24.2.1`	affected	—
`24.1.2`	affected	—
`24.2.11`	affected	—
`24.3.1`	affected	—
`7.8.23`	affected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

AND

OR	cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:24.4:::::::*

OR	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8011-4g24y4h-i:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32fh:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32fh-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32h-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-28fh-dpu-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-64h:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-64h-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8111-32eh-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8122-64eh-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8122-64ehf-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-24h8fh:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-32fh:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-32fh-o:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8202:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8202-32fh-m:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8212-48fh-m:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8404:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8501-sys-mt:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8608:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8700:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8711-32fh-m:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8712-mod-m:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8804:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8808:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8812:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8818:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_1010:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_1014:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-12z20g-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-12z20g-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24q2c2dd-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24q8l2dd-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24z8q2c-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-28z4c-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-28z4c-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z14s-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z18g-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z18g-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-acc-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-fh-agg:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-fh-csr-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-12z16g-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-12z16g-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z4g8q2c-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z4g8q2c-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z8q2c-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-4z14g2q-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-4z14g2q-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-6z18g-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-6z18g-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-8z16g-sys-a:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-8z16g-sys-d:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-acc-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57b1-5dse-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57b1-6d24-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57c1-48q6-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57c3-mod-sys:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57d2-18dd-sys:-:::::::*

No data.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cisco	Ios Xr Software	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
EUVD	EUVD-2025-6451	A vulnerability in the boot process of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco IOS XR image signature verification 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 incomplete validation of files in the boot verification process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the system configuration options to bypass some of the integrity checks that are performed during the boot 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: Because exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the attacker bypassing Cisco image verification, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required High

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.170% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ios-xr-verii-bypass-HhPwQRvx

History

Aug 6, 2025 5:15 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Cisco 8011-4g24y4h-i Cisco 8101-32fh Cisco 8101-32fh-o Cisco 8101-32h-o Cisco 8102-28fh-dpu-o Cisco 8102-64h Cisco 8102-64h-o Cisco 8111-32eh-o Cisco 8122-64eh-o Cisco 8122-64ehf-o Cisco 8201 Cisco 8201-24h8fh Cisco 8201-32fh Cisco 8201-32fh-o Cisco 8202 Cisco 8202-32fh-m Cisco 8212-48fh-m Cisco 8404 Cisco 8501-sys-mt Cisco 8608 Cisco 8700 Cisco 8711-32fh-m Cisco 8712-mod-m Cisco 8804 Cisco 8808 Cisco 8812 Cisco 8818 Cisco ios Xr Cisco ncs 1010 Cisco ncs 1014 Cisco ncs 540-12z20g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-12z20g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-24q2c2dd-sys Cisco ncs 540-24q8l2dd-sys Cisco ncs 540-24z8q2c-sys Cisco ncs 540-28z4c-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-28z4c-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-6z14s-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-6z18g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-6z18g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-acc-sys Cisco ncs 540-fh-agg Cisco ncs 540-fh-csr-sys Cisco ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-a Cisco ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-d Cisco ncs 540x-16z8q2c-d Cisco ncs 540x-4z14g2q-a Cisco ncs 540x-4z14g2q-d Cisco ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-acc-sys Cisco ncs 57b1-5dse-sys Cisco ncs 57b1-6d24-sys Cisco ncs 57c1-48q6-sys Cisco ncs 57c3-mod-sys Cisco ncs 57d2-18dd-sys
CPEs		cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8011-4g24y4h-i:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32fh-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32fh:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8101-32h-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-28fh-dpu-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-64h-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8102-64h:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8111-32eh-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8122-64eh-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8122-64ehf-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-24h8fh:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-32fh-o:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201-32fh:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8201:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8202-32fh-m:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8202:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8212-48fh-m:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8404:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8501-sys-mt:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8608:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8700:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8711-32fh-m:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8712-mod-m:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8804:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8808:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8812:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8818:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_1010:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_1014:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-12z20g-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-12z20g-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24q2c2dd-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24q8l2dd-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-24z8q2c-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-28z4c-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-28z4c-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z14s-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z18g-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-6z18g-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-acc-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-fh-agg:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540-fh-csr-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-12z16g-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-12z16g-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z4g8q2c-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z4g8q2c-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-16z8q2c-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-4z14g2q-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-4z14g2q-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-6z18g-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-6z18g-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-8z16g-sys-a:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-8z16g-sys-d:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_540x-acc-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57b1-5dse-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57b1-6d24-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57c1-48q6-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57c3-mod-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ncs_57d2-18dd-sys:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:24.4:::::::*
Vendors & Products		Cisco 8011-4g24y4h-i Cisco 8101-32fh Cisco 8101-32fh-o Cisco 8101-32h-o Cisco 8102-28fh-dpu-o Cisco 8102-64h Cisco 8102-64h-o Cisco 8111-32eh-o Cisco 8122-64eh-o Cisco 8122-64ehf-o Cisco 8201 Cisco 8201-24h8fh Cisco 8201-32fh Cisco 8201-32fh-o Cisco 8202 Cisco 8202-32fh-m Cisco 8212-48fh-m Cisco 8404 Cisco 8501-sys-mt Cisco 8608 Cisco 8700 Cisco 8711-32fh-m Cisco 8712-mod-m Cisco 8804 Cisco 8808 Cisco 8812 Cisco 8818 Cisco ios Xr Cisco ncs 1010 Cisco ncs 1014 Cisco ncs 540-12z20g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-12z20g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-24q2c2dd-sys Cisco ncs 540-24q8l2dd-sys Cisco ncs 540-24z8q2c-sys Cisco ncs 540-28z4c-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-28z4c-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-6z14s-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-6z18g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540-6z18g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540-acc-sys Cisco ncs 540-fh-agg Cisco ncs 540-fh-csr-sys Cisco ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-a Cisco ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-d Cisco ncs 540x-16z8q2c-d Cisco ncs 540x-4z14g2q-a Cisco ncs 540x-4z14g2q-d Cisco ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-a Cisco ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-d Cisco ncs 540x-acc-sys Cisco ncs 57b1-5dse-sys Cisco ncs 57b1-6d24-sys Cisco ncs 57c1-48q6-sys Cisco ncs 57c3-mod-sys Cisco ncs 57d2-18dd-sys

Jul 12, 2025 1:45 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics	epss `{'score': 0.00021}`	epss `{'score': 0.00022}`

Mar 14, 2025 4:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Mar 12, 2025 4:15 PM Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		A vulnerability in the boot process of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to bypass Cisco IOS XR image signature verification 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 incomplete validation of files in the boot verification process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the system configuration options to bypass some of the integrity checks that are performed during the boot 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: Because exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the attacker bypassing Cisco image verification, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.
Title		Cisco IOS XR Software Image Verification Bypass Vulnerability
Weaknesses		CWE-274
References		https://blog.apnic.net/2024/09/02/crafting-endless-as-paths-in-bgp/ https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ios-xr-verii-bypass-HhPwQRvx
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 6.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}`

Subscriptions

Cisco 8011-4g24y4h-i 8101-32fh 8101-32fh-o 8101-32h-o 8102-28fh-dpu-o 8102-64h 8102-64h-o 8111-32eh-o 8122-64eh-o 8122-64ehf-o 8201 8201-24h8fh 8201-32fh 8201-32fh-o 8202 8202-32fh-m 8212-48fh-m 8404 8501-sys-mt 8608 8700 8711-32fh-m 8712-mod-m 8804 8808 8812 8818 Ios Xr Ios Xr Software Ncs 1010 Ncs 1014 Ncs 540-12z20g-sys-a Ncs 540-12z20g-sys-d Ncs 540-24q2c2dd-sys Ncs 540-24q8l2dd-sys Ncs 540-24z8q2c-sys Ncs 540-28z4c-sys-a Ncs 540-28z4c-sys-d Ncs 540-6z14s-sys-d Ncs 540-6z18g-sys-a Ncs 540-6z18g-sys-d Ncs 540-acc-sys Ncs 540-fh-agg Ncs 540-fh-csr-sys Ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-a Ncs 540x-12z16g-sys-d Ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-a Ncs 540x-16z4g8q2c-d Ncs 540x-16z8q2c-d Ncs 540x-4z14g2q-a Ncs 540x-4z14g2q-d Ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-a Ncs 540x-6z18g-sys-d Ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-a Ncs 540x-8z16g-sys-d Ncs 540x-acc-sys Ncs 57b1-5dse-sys Ncs 57b1-6d24-sys Ncs 57c1-48q6-sys Ncs 57c3-mod-sys Ncs 57d2-18dd-sys

Weaknesses