The Register: Watch out, another max-severity, make-me-root Cisco bug on the loose

Jul 17, 2025

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Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/17/critical_cisco_bug/
Source: The Register
Title: Watch out, another max-severity, make-me-root Cisco bug on the loose

Feedly Summary: Three perfect 10s in the last month – ISE, ISE, baby
Cisco has issued a patch for a critical 10 out of 10 severity bug in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to run arbitrary code on the operating system with root-level privileges. …

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Cisco has released a patch to address a critical vulnerability in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) that could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. This highlights the importance of patch management and vulnerability remediation for security professionals in the cloud and infrastructure domains.

Detailed Description:

Cisco’s patch for the Identity Services Engine (ISE) vulnerability, rated 10 out of 10 on the severity scale, emphasizes critical security protocols within infrastructure. The following points summarize the implications and significance of this event:

– **Critical Vulnerability**: The vulnerability allows unauthenticated, remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, which poses a significant risk to organizations using ISE for network access control and identity management.

– **Root-level Privileges**: Attackers gaining root-level access could lead to the total compromise of affected systems, highlighting a severe security threat to enterprise environments.

– **Patch Release**: Cisco’s response through a patch demonstrates proactive measures in vulnerability management. It is imperative for organizations to apply such patches promptly to mitigate risks.

– **Focus on Cyber Hygiene**: This event reiterates the necessity for consistent monitoring and timely updates in the security landscape, especially in complex environments like those managed with Cisco ISE.

– **Relevance to Cloud and Infrastructure Security**: With ISE being integral to managing network identity and access, vulnerabilities in such systems can have ramifications for overall cloud and infrastructure security.

In conclusion, security professionals must remain vigilant regarding vulnerability disclosures and prioritize patch management as part of their compliance and infrastructure security strategies.

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