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CVE Record

CVE-2026-20245: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authenticated Privilege Escalation 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.

HighCVSS 7.8Known exploitedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

An attacker with netadmin access to affected Cisco SD-WAN control components can abuse a CLI input validation flaw to become root. That can turn an already privileged SD-WAN compromise into full control of controllers and potentially unauthorized configuration changes across edge devices.

Executive priority

Treat this as urgent for any Cisco SD-WAN environment. The issue requires privileged access, but confirmed KEV status and root impact make it a high-priority patching and configuration-integrity review item.

Technical view

CVE-2026-20245 is an authenticated local command injection issue in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, Manager, and Validator. A crafted uploaded file can reach insufficiently validated CLI handling, allowing root-level command execution. Cisco reports limited exploitation causing configuration changes pushed to edge devices.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to affected Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, Manager, and Validator deployments, formerly vSmart, vManage, and vBond. The attacker needs netadmin privileges, valid credentials, or exploitation of related Cisco SD-WAN vulnerabilities referenced by Cisco.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status and Cisco's statement support active exploitation. The known observed impact is limited cases where exploitation led to configuration changes pushed to edge devices. The bundle does not provide public exploit details, and this assessment does not infer additional methods.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on privilege boundaries, CLI file handling, and post-exploitation configuration propagation. Evidence in the bundle names CWE-116 and command injection, but fixed versions and detailed indicators are not included here; rely on Cisco's advisory for exact release mapping.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to Cisco fixed software identified in the Cisco advisory.
  • Verify edge device configurations for unauthorized or unexpected changes.
  • Review netadmin accounts and remove unnecessary privileged access.
  • Investigate related Cisco SD-WAN vulnerabilities referenced by Cisco.
  • Monitor Cisco and CISA guidance for updated remediation instructions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all Cisco SD-WAN Controller, Manager, and Validator versions.
  • Compare deployed versions against Cisco's affected and fixed release guidance.
  • Review controller audit logs for unusual netadmin activity or file uploads.
  • Check edge devices for unexpected configuration pushes.
  • Confirm patched controllers cannot reproduce the vulnerable behavior using approved vendor validation.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-116: User-session and phishing behavior lookup

Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-20245 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
Yes
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

CISA KEV status

Status
Known exploited
Source
CISA-ADP
Date added
KEV reference

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: activeAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9cisco

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-20245Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. Added to KEVCISA-ADP

    CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities metadata lists this CVE as known exploited.

  4. ADP timelineCISA-ADP

    CVE-2026-20245 added to CISA KEV

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvcother:kev
  • 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z: CVE-2026-20245 added to CISA KEV

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller20.6.4, 20.9.2, 20.3.6, 20.7.2, 20.7.1, 20.5.1, 20.6.2, 19.3.0, 20.6.1, 17.2.4, 18.2.0, 18.4.6, 19.1.0, 19.2.4, 19.2.929, 18.3.8, 18.4.303, 18.3.7, 18.4.1, 19.2.097, 19.2.0, 19.2.099, 18.3.6, 20.4.2, 19.0.0, 20.9.1, 20.3.5, 20.3.1, 18.3.5, 20.6.3, 18.4.3, 18.4.4, 18.3.3, 17.2.8, 20.8.1, 19.2.32, 19.2.2, 17.2.5, 18.4.0, 20.4.1.1, 20.1.3, 20.1.2, 17.2.10, 19.2.098, 20.1.1, 17.2.6, 19.2.1, 18.3.4, 20.4.1, 17.2.9, 19.2.31, 19.0.1a, 18.3.0, 17.2.7, 18.4.5, 20.3.4, 20.3.3, 20.4.1.2, 20.3.2, 18.3.1, 20.1.12, 19.2.3, 20.10.1, 20.6.5, 20.3.7, 20.9.3, 20.11.1, 20.6.3.2, 20.4.2.3, 20.3.5.1, 20.3.4.3, 20.9.3.1, 20.6.4.1, 20.3.3.2, 20.6.5.2, 20.3.7.1, 20.11.1.1, 20.10.1.1, 20.6.1.2, 20.1.3.1, 20.9.2.2, 20.6.5.3, 20.6.3.3, 20.3.7.2, 20.6.5.4, 20.9.2.3, 20.9.4, 20.12.1, 20.3.8, 20.6.6, 20.12.2, 20.13.1, 20.9.5, 20.12.3, 20.6.7, 20.9.5.1, 20.14.1, 20.12.3.1, 20.12.4, 20.15.1, 20.9.6, 20.6.8, 20.16.1, 20.9.5.3, 20.12.4.1, 20.15.2, 20.12.5, 20.9.7, 20.15.3, 20.12.5.1, 20.12.5.2, 20.15.4, 20.9.7.1, 20.18.1, 20.12.6, 20.9.8, 20.15.4.1, 20.18.2, 26.1.1, 20.15.4.2, 20.18.2.1, 20.12.5.3, 20.12.6.1, 20.9.8.2, 20.15.5, 20.18.3, 20.12.7, 20.9.9, 20.18.2.2, 20.12.5.4, 20.12.7.1, 20.15.5.1, 20.15.4.3, 20.12.6.2, 20.15.5.2, 20.15.4.4, 26.1.1.1, 20.9.9.1, 26.1.1.2, 20.15.4.5, 20.15.5.3unknown
CiscoCisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager20.1.12, 19.2.1, 18.4.4, 18.4.5, 20.1.1.1, 20.1.1, 19.3.0, 19.2.2, 19.2.099, 18.3.6, 18.3.7, 19.2.0, 18.3.8, 19.0.0, 19.1.0, 18.4.302, 18.4.303, 19.2.097, 19.2.098, 17.2.10, 18.3.6.1, 19.0.1a, 18.2.0, 18.4.3, 18.4.1, 17.2.8, 18.3.3.1, 18.4.0, 18.3.1, 17.2.6, 17.2.9, 18.3.4, 17.2.5, 18.3.1.1, 18.3.5, 18.4.0.1, 18.3.3, 17.2.7, 17.2.4, 18.3.0, 19.2.3, 18.4.501_ES, 20.3.1, 20.1.2, 19.2.929, 19.2.31, 20.3.2, 19.2.32, 20.3.2_925, 20.3.2.1, 20.3.2.1_927, 18.4.6, 20.1.2_937, 20.4.1, 20.3.2_928, 20.3.2_929, 20.4.1.0.1, 20.3.2.1_930, 19.2.4, 20.5.0.1.1, 20.4.1.1, 20.3.3, 19.2.4.0.1, 20.3.2_937, 20.3.3.1, 20.5.1, 20.1.3, 20.3.3.0.4, 20.3.3.1.2, 20.3.3.1.1, 20.4.1.2, 20.3.3.0.2, 20.4.1.1.5, 20.4.1.0.01, 20.4.1.0.02, 20.3.3.1.7, 20.3.3.1.5, 20.5.1.0.1, 20.3.3.1.10, 20.3.3.0.8, 20.4.2, 20.4.2.0.1, 20.3.4, 20.3.3.0.14, 19.2.4.0.8, 19.2.4.0.9, 20.3.4.0.1, 20.3.2.0.5, 20.6.1, 20.5.1.0.2, 20.3.3.0.17, 20.6.1.1, 20.6.0.18.3, 20.3.2.0.6, 20.6.0.18.4, 20.4.2.0.2, 20.3.3.0.16, 20.3.4.0.5, 20.6.1.0.1, 20.3.4.0.6, 20.6.2, 20.7.1EFT2, 20.3.4.0.9, 20.3.4.0.11, 20.4.2.0.4, 20.3.3.0.18, 20.7.1, 20.6.2.1, 20.3.4.1, 20.5.1.1, 20.4.2.1, 20.4.2.1.1, 20.3.4.1.1, 20.3.813, 20.3.4.0.19, 20.4.2.2.1, 20.5.1.2, 20.3.4.2, 20.3.814, 20.4.2.2, 20.6.2.2, 20.3.4.2.1, 20.7.1.1, 20.3.4.1.2, 20.6.2.2.2, 20.3.4.0.20, 20.6.2.2.3, 20.4.2.2.2, 20.3.5, 20.6.2.0.4, 20.4.2.2.3, 20.3.4.0.24, 20.6.2.2.7, 20.6.3, 20.3.4.2.2, 20.4.2.2.4, 20.7.1.0.2, 20.8.1, 20.3.5.0.8, 20.3.5.0.9, 20.4.2.2.8, 20.3.5.0.7, 20.6.3.0.7, 20.6.3.0.5, 20.6.3.0.10, 20.6.3.0.2, 20.7.2, 20.9.1EFT2, 20.6.3.0.11, 20.6.3.1, 20.6.3.0.14, 20.6.4, 20.9.1, 20.6.3.0.19, 20.6.3.0.18, 20.3.6, 20.9.1.1, 20.6.3.0.23, 20.6.4.0.4, 20.6.3.0.25, 20.6.5, 20.6.3.0.27, 20.9.2, 20.9.2.1, 20.6.3.0.29, 20.6.3.0.31, 20.6.3.0.32, 20.10.1, 20.6.3.0.33, 20.9.2.0.01, 20.9.1_LI_Images, 20.10.1_LI_Images, 20.9.2_LI_Images, 20.3.7, 20.9.3, 20.6.5.1, 20.11.1, 20.11.1_LI_Images, 20.9.3_LI_ Images, 20.6.3.1.1, 20.9.3.0.2, 20.6.5.1.2, 20.9.3.0.3, 20.4.2.3, 20.6.3.2, 20.6.4.1, 20.6.3.0.38, 20.6.3.0.39, 20.3.5.1, 20.3.4.3, 20.9.3.1, 20.3.3.2, 20.6.5.2, 20.3.7.1, 20.10.1.1, 20.6.5.2.1, 20.3.4.0.25, 20.6.2.2.4, 20.6.1.2, 20.11.1.1, 20.9.3.0.5, 20.3.4.0.26, 20.6.5.1.3, 20.6.3.0.40, 20.1.3.1, 20.9.2.2, 20.6.5.2.3, 20.6.5.1.4, 20.6.5.3, 20.6.3.0.41, 20.9.3.0.7, 20.6.5.1.5, 20.9.3.0.4, 20.6.4.0.19, 20.6.5.1.6, 20.9.3.0.8, 20.6.3.3, 20.3.7.2, 20.6.5.4, 20.6.5.1.7, 20.9.3.0.12, 20.6.4.2, 20.6.5.5, 20.9.3.2, 20.11.1.2, 20.6.3.4, 20.10.1.2, 20.6.5.1.9, 20.9.3.0.16, 20.6.3.0.45, 20.6.5.1.10, 20.9.3.0.17, 20.6.5.2.4, 20.6.4.0.21, 20.9.3.0.18, 20.6.3.0.46, 20.6.3.0.47, 20.9.2.3, 20.9.3.2_LI_Images, 20.9.3.0.21, 20.9.3.0.20, 20.9.4_LI_Images, 20.9.4, 20.6.5.1.11, 20.12.1, 20.12.1_LI_Images, 20.6.5.1.13, 20.9.3.0.23, 20.6.5.2.8, 20.9.4.1, 20.9.4.1_LI_Images, 20.9.3.0.25, 20.9.3.0.24, 20.6.5.1.14, 20.3.8, 20.6.6, 20.9.3.0.26, 20.6.3.0.51, 20.9.3.0.29, 20.12.2, 20.12.2_LI_Images, 20.6.6.0.1, 20.13.1_LI_Images, 20.9.4.0.4, 20.13.1, 20.9.4.1.1, 20.9.5, 20.9.5_LI_Images, 20.12.3_LI_Images, 20.12.3, 20.9.4.1.3, 20.6.7, 20.9.5.1, 20.9.5.1_LI_Images, 20.9.4.1.6, 20.14.1, 20.14.1_LI_Images, 20.9.5.2, 20.9.5.2.1, 20.9.5.2_LI_Images, 20.12.3.1, 20.12.4, 20.15.1_LI_Images, 20.15.1, 20.9.5.1.4, 20.9.5.2.7, 20.9.5.2.13, 20.9.6, 20.9.6_LI_Images, 20.9.5.2.14, 20.6.8, 20.12.4.0.03, 20.16.1, 20.16.1_LI_Images, 20.12.4_LI_Images, 20.9.5.2.16, 20.12.4.0.4, 20.12.401, 20.9.5.3, 20.9.5.3_LI_Images, 20.12.4.1_LI_Images, 20.12.4.1, 20.9.5.2.21, 20.9.6.0.3, 20.12.4.0.6, 20.15.2_LI_Images, 20.15.2, 20.12.4_Monthly_ES5, 20.12.5, 20.12.5_LI_Images, 20.9.7_LI _Images, 20.9.7, 20.15.3, 20.15.3_ LI _Images, 20.12.501, 20.12.5.1_LI_Images, 20.12.5.1, 20.12.5.2_LI_Images, 20.12.5.2, 20.15.3.1, 20.15.4_LI_Images, 20.15.4, 20.9.7.1_LI _Images, 20.9.7.1, 20.18.1, 20.18.1_LI_Images, 20.12.6_LI_Images, 20.12.6, 20.12.5.1.01, 26.0.1, 20.9.8, 20.9.8_LI_Images, 20.18.2, 20.15.4.1_LI_Images, 20.15.4.1, 20.18.2_LI_Images, 26.1.1, 26.1.1_LI_Images, 20.18.2.1_LI_Images, 20.18.2.1, 20.15.4.2_LI_Images, 20.15.4.2, 20.12.6.1, 20.12.6.1_LI_Images, 20.12.5.3, 20.12.5.3_LI_Images, 20.9.8.2_LI_Images, 20.9.8.2, 20.18.3, 20.18.3_LI_Images, 20.15.5, 20.15.5_LI_Images, 20.12.7, 20.12.7_LI_Images, 20.9.9, 20.9.9_LI_Images, 20.18.2.2, 20.18.2.2_LI_Images, 20.12.5.4, 20.12.5.4_LI_ Images, 20.12.7.1_LI_Images, 20.12.6.2_LI_Images, 20.12.7.1, 20.15.5.1, 20.15.4.3, 20.15.4.3_LI_Images, 20.15.5.1_LI_Images, 20.12.6.2, 20.15.5.2, 20.15.5.2_LI_Images, 26.1.1.1_LI_Images, 20.15.4.4, 20.15.4.4_LI_Images, 26.1.1.1, 20.9.9.1_LI_Images, 20.9.9.1unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-116

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-116 · source CWE mapping

Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output

Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs