Secure Boot Bypass via Local Auth in Cisco IOS XR
CVE-2025-20143 Published on March 12, 2025
Cisco IOS XR Software Secure Boot Bypass Vulnerability
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.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-20143 can be exploited with local system access, and requires user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.
Weakness Type
Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
The software does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data.
Products Associated with CVE-2025-20143
You can be notified by email with stack.watch whenever vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-20143 are published in Cisco Ios Xr:
Affected Versions
Cisco IOS XR Software:- Version 6.5.3 is affected.
- Version 6.5.2 is affected.
- Version 6.5.92 is affected.
- Version 6.5.1 is affected.
- Version 6.5.15 is affected.
- Version 6.6.2 is affected.
- Version 7.0.1 is affected.
- Version 6.6.25 is affected.
- Version 6.6.1 is affected.
- Version 6.6.11 is affected.
- Version 6.5.93 is affected.
- Version 6.6.12 is affected.
- Version 7.0.0 is affected.
- Version 7.1.1 is affected.
- Version 7.0.90 is affected.
- Version 6.6.3 is affected.
- Version 6.7.1 is affected.
- Version 7.0.2 is affected.
- Version 7.1.15 is affected.
- Version 7.2.0 is affected.
- Version 7.2.1 is affected.
- Version 7.1.2 is affected.
- Version 6.7.2 is affected.
- Version 7.1.25 is affected.
- Version 6.6.4 is affected.
- Version 7.3.1 is affected.
- Version 7.1.3 is affected.
- Version 6.7.3 is affected.
- Version 7.4.1 is affected.
- Version 7.2.2 is affected.
- Version 6.8.1 is affected.
- Version 7.4.15 is affected.
- Version 7.3.2 is affected.
- Version 7.5.1 is affected.
- Version 7.4.16 is affected.
- Version 7.3.27 is affected.
- Version 7.6.1 is affected.
- Version 7.5.2 is affected.
- Version 7.6.15 is affected.
- Version 7.3.3 is affected.
- Version 7.7.1 is affected.
- Version 6.8.2 is affected.
- Version 7.4.2 is affected.
- Version 7.3.4 is affected.
- Version 6.7.35 is affected.
- Version 6.9.1 is affected.
- Version 7.6.2 is affected.
- Version 7.8.1 is affected.
- Version 7.5.3 is affected.
- Version 7.7.2 is affected.
- Version 6.9.2 is affected.
- Version 7.8.2 is affected.
- Version 7.5.4 is affected.
- Version 7.8.22 is affected.
- Version 7.7.21 is affected.
- Version 7.3.5 is affected.
- Version 7.5.5 is affected.
- Version 7.3.6 is affected.
- Version 7.8.23 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.