CVE-2026-20245 — Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, formerly SD-WAN vSmart, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly SD-WAN vManage, and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator, formerly SD-WAN vBond, could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root by supplying a crafted file to the affected system. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a crafted file to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform command injection attacks on an affected system and elevate their privileges as the root user. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have netadmin privileges on the affected system. This would require valid credentials or exploitation of or . Cisco is not aware of successful exploitation by other methods. Cisco has observed limited cases where the exploitation of this bug resulted in a configuration change pushed to edge devices. Cisco recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software that is documented in the that was published on May 14, 2026, and verify the configuration of the edge devices.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- Public exploit/PoC (github)+6
- EPSS 25.3% (30-day exploitation probability)+15
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
CISA required action CISA
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
US federal deadline: Jun 23, 2026 — passed 114 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Cisco Catalyst Sd-wan Manager).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- EPSS ahead of 98% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (input validation), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Catalyst Sd-wan Manager |
version 20.12.5.3version 20.12.5.3_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.8.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.8.2version 20.18.3version 20.18.3_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.5version 20.15.5_LI_Images and 284 moreversion 20.12.7version 20.12.7_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.9version 20.9.9_LI_Imagesversion 20.18.2.2version 20.18.2.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.5.4version 20.12.5.4_LI_ Imagesversion 20.12.7.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.6.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.7.1version 20.15.5.1version 20.15.4.3version 20.15.4.3_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.5.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.6.2version 20.15.5.2version 20.15.5.2_LI_Imagesversion 26.1.1.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.4.4version 20.15.4.4_LI_Imagesversion 26.1.1.1version 20.9.9.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.9.1version 20.6.5.1.9version 20.9.3.0.16version 20.6.3.0.45version 20.6.5.1.10version 20.9.3.0.17version 20.6.5.2.4version 20.6.4.0.21version 20.9.3.0.18version 20.6.3.0.46version 20.6.3.0.47version 20.9.2.3version 20.9.3.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.3.0.21version 20.9.3.0.20version 20.9.4_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.4version 20.6.5.1.11version 20.12.1version 20.12.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.6.5.1.13version 20.9.3.0.23version 20.6.5.2.8version 20.9.4.1version 20.9.4.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.3.0.25version 20.9.3.0.24version 20.6.5.1.14version 20.3.8version 20.6.6version 20.9.3.0.26version 20.6.3.0.51version 20.9.3.0.29version 20.12.2version 20.12.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.6.6.0.1version 20.13.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.4.0.4version 20.13.1version 20.9.4.1.1version 20.9.5version 20.9.5_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.3_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.3version 20.9.4.1.3version 20.6.7version 20.9.5.1version 20.9.5.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.4.1.6version 20.14.1version 20.14.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.5.2version 20.9.5.2.1version 20.9.5.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.3.1version 20.12.4version 20.15.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.1version 20.9.5.1.4version 20.9.5.2.7version 20.9.5.2.13version 20.9.6version 20.9.6_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.5.2.14version 20.6.8version 20.12.4.0.03version 20.16.1version 20.16.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.4_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.5.2.16version 20.12.4.0.4version 20.12.401version 20.9.5.3version 20.9.5.3_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.4.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.4.1version 20.9.5.2.21version 20.9.6.0.3version 20.12.4.0.6version 20.15.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.2version 20.12.4_Monthly_ES5version 20.12.5version 20.12.5_LI_Imagesversion 20.9.7_LI _Imagesversion 20.9.7version 20.15.3version 20.15.3_ LI _Imagesversion 20.12.501version 20.12.5.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.5.1version 20.12.5.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.5.2version 20.15.3.1version 20.15.4_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.4version 20.9.7.1_LI _Imagesversion 20.9.7.1version 20.18.1version 20.18.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.6_LI_Imagesversion 20.12.6version 20.12.5.1.01version 26.0.1version 20.9.8version 20.9.8_LI_Imagesversion 20.18.2version 20.15.4.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.4.1version 20.18.2_LI_Imagesversion 26.1.1version 26.1.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.18.2.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.18.2.1version 20.15.4.2_LI_Imagesversion 20.15.4.2version 20.12.6.1version 20.12.6.1_LI_Imagesversion 20.1.12version 19.2.1version 18.4.4version 18.4.5version 20.1.1.1version 20.1.1version 19.3.0version 19.2.2version 19.2.099version 18.3.6version 18.3.7version 19.2.0version 18.3.8version 19.0.0version 19.1.0version 18.4.302version 18.4.303version 19.2.097version 19.2.098version 17.2.10version 18.3.6.1version 19.0.1aversion 18.2.0version 18.4.3version 18.4.1version 17.2.8version 18.3.3.1version 18.4.0version 18.3.1version 17.2.6version 17.2.9version 18.3.4version 17.2.5version 18.3.1.1version 18.3.5version 18.4.0.1version 18.3.3version 17.2.7version 17.2.4version 18.3.0version 19.2.3version 18.4.501_ESversion 20.3.1version 20.1.2version 19.2.929version 19.2.31version 20.3.2version 19.2.32version 20.3.2_925version 20.3.2.1version 20.3.2.1_927version 18.4.6version 20.1.2_937version 20.4.1version 20.3.2_928version 20.3.2_929version 20.4.1.0.1version 20.3.2.1_930version 19.2.4version 20.5.0.1.1version 20.4.1.1version 20.3.3version 19.2.4.0.1version 20.3.2_937version 20.3.3.1version 20.5.1version 20.1.3version 20.3.3.0.4version 20.3.3.1.2version 20.3.3.1.1version 20.4.1.2version 20.3.3.0.2version 20.4.1.1.5version 20.4.1.0.01version 20.4.1.0.02version 20.3.3.1.7version 20.3.3.1.5version 20.5.1.0.1version 20.3.3.1.10version 20.3.3.0.8version 20.4.2version 20.4.2.0.1version 20.3.4version 20.3.3.0.14version 19.2.4.0.8version 19.2.4.0.9version 20.3.4.0.1version 20.3.2.0.5version 20.6.1version 20.5.1.0.2version 20.3.3.0.17version 20.6.1.1version 20.6.0.18.3version 20.3.2.0.6version 20.6.0.18.4version 20.4.2.0.2version 20.3.3.0.16version 20.3.4.0.5version 20.6.1.0.1version 20.3.4.0.6version 20.6.2version 20.7.1EFT2version 20.3.4.0.9version 20.3.4.0.11version 20.4.2.0.4version 20.3.3.0.18version 20.7.1version 20.6.2.1version 20.3.4.1version 20.5.1.1version 20.4.2.1version 20.4.2.1.1version 20.3.4.1.1version 20.3.813version 20.3.4.0.19version 20.4.2.2.1version 20.5.1.2version 20.3.4.2version 20.3.814version 20.4.2.2version 20.6.2.2version 20.3.4.2.1version 20.7.1.1version 20.3.4.1.2version 20.6.2.2.2version 20.3.4.0.20version 20.6.2.2.3version 20.4.2.2.2version 20.3.5version 20.6.2.0.4version 20.4.2.2.3version 20.3.4.0.24version 20.6.2.2.7version 20.6.3version 20.3.4.2.2version 20.4.2.2.4version 20.7.1.0.2version 20.8.1version 20.3.5.0.8version 20.3.5.0.9version 20.4.2.2.8version 20.3.5.0.7version 20.6.3.0.7 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Cisco | Catalyst Sd-wan Manager | < 20.9.9.1≥ 20.10 and < 20.12.5.4≥ 20.12.6 and < 20.12.6.2≥ 20.13 and < 20.15.4.4≥ 20.15.5 and < 20.15.5.2≥ 20.16 and < 20.18.2.2≥ 26.1 and < 26.1.1.1version 20.12.7 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.8 | 5.9 | psirt@cisco.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | cisco via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: psirt@cisco.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- CVE-2026-20245 ★ 4 Jun 14, 2026
- CVE-2026-20245 - Cisco SD-WAN - Draft ★ 0 Jun 6, 2026
- PoC de CVE-2026-20245: escalada de privilegios en Cisco SD-WAN. Solo fines educativos y pruebas autorizadas. ★ 0 Jun 10, 2026
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 12, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 25.32%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Jun 9, 2026 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · cisco/cisco catalyst sd-wan controller, cisco/cisco catalyst sd-wan manager
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Affected products added · cisco/catalyst sd-wan manager, cisco/sd-wan vsmart controller
- CVSS changed · 7.8
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
5 on the record
- sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-privesc-
- sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-rpa2-v69
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-h4c6-cm2m-h5f6
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20245
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-76504 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Hex Encoding Vulnerability KEV 15d
- Medium CVE-2026-20262 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Directory or Path Traversal Vulnerability KEV Jun 15, 2026
- High CVE-2026-20224 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager XML External Entity Injection Vulnerability May 14, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-20210 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability May 14, 2026
- Critical CVE-2026-20182 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEV May 14, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-20209 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability May 14, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-20245 is "Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output Vulnerability", rated High. It affects Catalyst Sd-wan Manager (Cisco); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 7.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 25.32% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
Comments
Moderated technical discussion. Read the community guidelines.
No comments yet.
Sign in or create an account to comment and suggest corrections.