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CVE-2026-20130

Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Improper Neutralization Vulnerabilities

Published: Sep 16, 2026Updated: Sep 18, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-74
10.0CRITICAL
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 66.4%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
0 Known
Remediation
No Fix Available
Self-Check
Not available

Description

As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC), engineering teams have conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening release that addresses multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-20130 are related to improper neutralization of special elements issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Pillar CWE-74.

In plain language

AI Act now

This is a critical flaw in Cisco Identity Services Engine software that may let an outsider take over affected systems, so small businesses using it should act now.

Executive summary

Network-reachable, unauthenticated improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-74) in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector, with public exploit availability and critical CVSS 10.0 impact.

If affected, business impact
Identity system takeoverSensitive identity data exposureUnauthorized access changesBusiness access outages

What to do now

  1. Check whether your organization runs Cisco Identity Services Engine software or its Passive Identity Connector.
  2. Ask your Cisco support contact whether your installed release is affected by CVE-2026-20130; Cisco has not published fixed-version information.
  3. Limit access to the affected systems to only necessary administrators and networks until Cisco provides remediation.
  4. Watch Cisco security advisories for a fixed release and install it as soon as Cisco confirms one.
May need vendor / contractor work

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:CC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:CScope
Changed
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-74

Affected Products

Cisco
commercial·USaka cisco systems, cisco systems inc.
Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
Networking Infrastructure
Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector
Networking Infrastructure

Exploitability

0 exploit sources identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

View exploit details
Is your org exposed to CVE-2026-20130?Request an assessment to establish which checks are appropriate for your systems. Check my exposure

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes for MITRE ATT&CK details · drag to pan · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll to zoom, or go fullscreen.

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hardening-ise-XU5EwX5T
sec.cloudapps.cisco.com
News mentions
1

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