High [CVE-2026-20127 +2] Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, and Catalyst SD-WAN Validator Authenticated Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
This high-severity Cisco advisory covers CVE-2026-20127 and CVE-2026-20182 and 1 more CVE affecting Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager.
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Summary
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. 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 CVE-2026-20182 or CVE-2026-20127.
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 Catalyst SD-WAN Security Advisory that was published on May 14, 2026, and verify the configuration of the edge devices.
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
- Listed:
- Feb 25, 2026 · federal remediation due Feb 27, 2026
- Required action:
- Please adhere to CISA’s guidelines to assess exposure and mitigate risks associated with Cisco SD-WAN devices as outlines in CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-03 (URL listed below in Notes) and CISA’s “Hunt & Hardening Guidance for Cisco SD-WAN Devices (URL listed below in Notes). Adhere to the applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are not available.
- Ransomware use:
- Unknown
KEV is a prioritization signal from CISA — remediation detail still comes from the vendor advisory.
- Scope: This vulnerability affects Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator, regardless of device configuration.
- Release 20.9.9.1 and earlier (first fixed: 20.9.9.2)
- Release 20.12.7.1 and earlier (first fixed: 20.12.7.2)
- Release 20.15.4.4 and earlier (first fixed: 20.15.4.5)
- Release 20.15.5.2 and earlier (first fixed: 20.15.5.3)
- Release 20.18.3 (first fixed: 20.18.3.1)
- Release 26.1.1.1 and earlier (first fixed: 26.1.1.2)
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 months ago·verify at source
- 20.9.9.2
- 20.12.7.2
- 20.15.4.5
- 20.15.5.3
- 20.18.3.1
- 26.1.1.2
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 months ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- Cisco recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software that is documented in the Catalyst SD-WAN Security Advisory that was published on May 14, 2026, and verify the configuration of the edge devices.
- If the logs show indicators of compromise and the system is confirmed to be compromised, applying the software update alone will not resolve the vulnerability.
- The only way to remediate this vulnerability is to upgrade to the first fixed software release, as noted in the Fixed Releases section of this advisory.
- Live Protect Shield Cisco has released a Live Protect shield for CVE-2026-20245 to provide temporary security coverage to allow time for software upgrade planning, including preserving any information that customers may require for governance or compliance purposes.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 2 months ago·verify at source
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