CVE-2026-20044

CVE-2026-20044 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-269.

Key facts

Description

A vulnerability in the lockdown mechanism of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform arbitrary commands as root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient restrictions on remediation modules while in lockdown mode. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the system CLI of the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands or code as root, even when the system is in lockdown mode. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-20044?
A vulnerability in the lockdown mechanism of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform arbitrary commands as root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient restrictions on remediation modules while in lockdown mode. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the system CLI of the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands or code as root, even when the system is in lockdown mode. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials.
How severe is CVE-2026-20044?
CVE-2026-20044 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.0, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-20044 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (3rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-20044?
CVE-2026-20044 affects Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20044?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2026-20044 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2026-20044 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-9435.
When was CVE-2026-20044 published?
CVE-2026-20044 was published on 2026-03-04 and last updated on 2026-09-02.

References

Affected products (1)

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