CVE-2026-20129
Authentication Bypass in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN API Enables Privilege Escalation
Publication date: 2026-02-25
Last updated on: 2026-03-04
Assigner: Cisco Systems, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
| Probability: | |
| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| cisco | catalyst_sd-wan_manager | to 20.9.8.2 (exc) |
| cisco | catalyst_sd-wan_manager | From 20.11 (inc) to 20.12.5.3 (exc) |
| cisco | catalyst_sd-wan_manager | From 20.13 (inc) to 20.15.4.2 (exc) |
| cisco | catalyst_sd-wan_manager | 20.12.6 |
| cisco | catalyst_sd-wan_manager | From 20.16 (inc) to 20.18 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-287 | When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in the API user authentication of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. It allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain access to the system as a user with the netadmin role.
The issue is caused by improper authentication for requests sent to the API. An attacker can exploit this by sending a specially crafted request to the API, which could result in executing commands with netadmin privileges.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager versions 20.18 and later are not affected by this vulnerability.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the system with netadmin privileges.
This means the attacker could execute commands with high-level administrative rights, potentially leading to full control over the affected system.
Such access could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system and its data.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
I don't know
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure that your Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager is updated to release 20.18 or later, as these versions are not affected by this issue.
Additionally, restrict access to the API to trusted users and networks to reduce the risk of exploitation.