CVE-2026-20278
Received Received - Intake

Improper Neutralization Vulnerability in Cisco IOS XR Software

Publication date: 2026-09-02

Last updated on: 2026-09-02

Assigner: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Description
As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco IOS XR Software engineering team has conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening releases that address multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-20278 are related to improper neutralization issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) CWE-707.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-02
Last Modified
2026-09-02
Generated
2026-09-02
AI Q&A
2026-09-02
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-20278
EUVD
EUVD-2026-70208

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
cisco ios_xr_software *

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-707 The product does not ensure or incorrectly ensures that structured messages or data are well-formed and that certain security properties are met before being read from an upstream component or sent to a downstream component.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-20278 is a vulnerability in Cisco IOS XR Software related to improper neutralization issues classified under CWE-707. This means the software fails to properly neutralize or handle certain inputs, potentially allowing for unintended behavior or security weaknesses.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to execute arbitrary code, gain elevated privileges, or cause denial of service on affected Cisco IOS XR devices. The high CVSS score of 8.8 indicates significant potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest Cisco IOS XR Software security updates or patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerabilities. Monitor Cisco's security advisories for updates and follow their recommended mitigation steps.

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