CVE-2026-20280
Received Received - Intake

Improper Exception Handling 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-2026-20280 are related to improper checking or handling of exceptional condition issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) CWE-703.

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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-2026-20280
EUVD
EUVD-2026-70207

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-703 The product does not properly anticipate or handle exceptional conditions that rarely occur during normal operation of the product.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-20280 is a vulnerability in Cisco IOS XR Software caused by improper handling of exceptional conditions, classified under CWE-703. This could allow an attacker to exploit weaknesses in error handling to potentially execute unauthorized actions or disrupt system operations.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system disruptions if exploited. Attackers might gain control over affected systems, compromise sensitive data, or cause service outages, depending on the system's configuration and exposure.

Compliance Impact

The provided CVE data does not specify direct impacts on compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA. The vulnerability involves improper handling of exceptional conditions (CWE-703) in Cisco IOS XR Software, which could lead to unauthorized access or system compromise. Such issues may indirectly affect compliance by increasing risks to data confidentiality and integrity, but no explicit compliance implications are detailed in the given context.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest Cisco IOS XR Software security updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerabilities. Monitor Cisco's security advisories for patches and follow their recommended hardening steps for CWE-703 related issues.

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