CVE-2026-20245: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output 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.
Other sources
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager formerly SD-WAN vManage contains an improper encoding or escaping of output vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root by supplying a crafted file to the affected system.
— CISA
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-20245?
The severity of CVE-2026-20245 is high with a CVSS score of 7.8.
What is CVE-2026-20245 about?
CVE-2026-20245 describes an authenticated privilege escalation vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager allowing execution of arbitrary commands by a local attacker.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20245?
To fix CVE-2026-20245, ensure you apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco for the Catalyst SD-WAN Manager.
Who is affected by CVE-2026-20245?
CVE-2026-20245 affects users of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager who utilize the CLI.
What are the potential impacts of CVE-2026-20245?
The potential impacts of CVE-2026-20245 include unauthorized command execution and possible complete control over the affected system.