CVE-2026-20186
Command Injection in Cisco ISE Allows Remote Root Access
Publication date: 2026-04-15
Last updated on: 2026-04-15
Assigner: Cisco Systems, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| cisco | identity_services_engine | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-77 | The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected Cisco Identity Services Engine device, potentially leading to unauthorized access and privilege escalation.
Such unauthorized access and potential denial of service conditions could impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data managed by the device.
Therefore, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to non-compliance with common standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require protection of sensitive data and system availability.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and allows an authenticated remote attacker with at least Read Only Admin credentials to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of the affected device.
The issue arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied input, which can be exploited by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the device.
Successful exploitation can grant the attacker user-level access to the operating system and the ability to escalate privileges to root.
In single-node ISE deployments, this can also cause the node to become unavailable, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
Exploitation of this vulnerability can have severe impacts including unauthorized execution of arbitrary commands on the device's operating system.
An attacker could gain root-level privileges, potentially compromising the entire system.
In single-node deployments, the affected ISE node could become unavailable, causing a denial of service (DoS) that prevents endpoints from authenticating and accessing the network until the node is restored.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure that only trusted users have Read Only Admin credentials, as exploitation requires such access.
Avoid exposing the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to untrusted networks to reduce the risk of receiving crafted HTTP requests.
Monitor the availability of ISE nodes, as successful exploitation can cause denial of service conditions.
Apply any available patches or updates from Cisco addressing this vulnerability as soon as they are released.