CVE-2026-20045: Cisco Unified Communications Products Code Injection Vulnerability
A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root. Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.
Other sources
Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance contain a code injection vulnerability that could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root.
— CISA
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Compensating control
Mitigate per the vendor’s instructions; if mitigations are unavailable, discontinue use of the affected Cisco Unified Communications products.
- Compensating control
Apply applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-20045?
CVE-2026-20045 is rated as critical due to its potential to allow remote code execution.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20045?
To fix CVE-2026-20045, apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco for the affected Unified Communications products.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-20045?
CVE-2026-20045 affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition, Cisco Unified Communications IM & Presence Service, Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-20045?
CVE-2026-20045 is classified as a remote code execution vulnerability.
Can CVE-2026-20045 be exploited remotely?
Yes, CVE-2026-20045 can be exploited remotely, making it critical for organizations to address it immediately.