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CVE-2026-20046 Cisco CVE debrief

CVE-2026-20046 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco IOS XR Software that allows authenticated, local attackers to elevate privileges and gain full control of an affected device. The vulnerability is due to incorrect mapping of a command to task groups within the source code. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using the CLI command to bypass the task group-based checks. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges and perform actions on an affected device without authorization checks. Cisco has released a security advisory to address this vulnerability.

Vendor
Cisco
Product
Cisco IOS XR Software
CVSS
HIGH 8.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-03-11
Original CVE updated
2026-07-01
Advisory published
2026-03-11
Advisory updated
2026-07-01

Who should care

Administrators and security teams responsible for managing and securing Cisco IOS XR Software installations should be aware of this vulnerability and take immediate action to mitigate the risk. This vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated, local attackers, making it essential to ensure that all affected devices are updated with the latest security patches. Additionally, organizations should review their current security configurations and ensure that they are following best practices to minimize the attack surface.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by incorrect mapping of a command to task groups within the source code of Cisco IOS XR Software. This allows an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges and gain full control of an affected device. The vulnerability can be exploited using a CLI command, which bypasses task group-based checks. A successful exploit enables the attacker to perform actions on the device without authorization checks. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for this vulnerability is 8.8, indicating a high severity level.

Defensive priority

This vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level. It is essential to prioritize patching and mitigation efforts to prevent exploitation.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the security patch released by Cisco to address this vulnerability.
  • Review and update security configurations to ensure they are following best practices.
  • Monitor system logs for suspicious activity.
  • Implement additional security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and access controls.
  • Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses.

Evidence notes

The CVE-2026-20046 vulnerability is documented in the official CVE record and the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). Cisco has released a security advisory to address this vulnerability. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level.

Official resources

This article is AI-assisted and based on the supplied source corpus.