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CVE-2026-20220 Cisco CVE debrief

CVE-2026-20220 is a medium-severity vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Crosswork Network Controller. The vulnerability allows an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device due to insufficient input validation in the configuration template engine. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system in limited areas of the file system where the template user has write permissions. The vulnerability requires valid template user credentials with write permissions to exploit.

Vendor
Cisco
Product
Cisco Crosswork Network Change Automation
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.3
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-06-17
Original CVE updated
2026-06-22
Advisory published
2026-06-17
Advisory updated
2026-06-22

Who should care

Administrators and security teams responsible for Cisco Crosswork Network Controller should prioritize patching this vulnerability to prevent potential command injection attacks. They should review template user credentials and permissions, restrict access to the web-based management interface, and implement additional security controls such as network segmentation and access controls.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by insufficient input validation in the configuration template engine of the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the affected device, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system in limited areas of the file system. The attacker must have valid template user credentials with write permissions to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects only areas of the operating system for which the template user has write permissions.

Defensive priority

Medium priority due to the requirement for valid template user credentials with write permissions.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the patch provided by Cisco
  • Restrict access to the web-based management interface
  • Monitor for suspicious activity
  • Review and update template user credentials and permissions
  • Implement additional security controls, such as network segmentation and access controls
  • Conduct a thorough review of affected deployments
  • Verify the effectiveness of compensating controls

Evidence notes

The CVE record was published on 2026-06-17T17:16:43.253Z and was last modified on 2026-06-22T14:16:26.503Z. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. Evidence is limited to public sources and may not reflect the full scope or impact of this vulnerability. Defenders should verify affected deployments and review official advisories for specific guidance.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-20220 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20220

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-20220 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20220

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.