CVE-2026-20079 Cisco Firewall Management Center Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication and execute scripts to gain root access on Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center devices.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 9 Sep 2026
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-20079?
CVE-2026-20079 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, published on 4 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute script files on an affected device to obtain root access to the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to an improper system process that is created at boot time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute a variety of scripts and commands that allow root access to the device.
Weakness: CWE-288
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20079?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20079?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20079 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 12 Sep 2026.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2026-20079 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2026-20079 in the wild since at least 9 Sep 2026.
Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module, 1 Nuclei template and 3 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
- CVE-2026-20131 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software and Cisco Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management Deserialization of Untrusted Data
- CVE-2026-20316 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Use of Hard-coded Password
- CVE-2025-20265 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Radius Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-20424 Command injection in Cisco Firepower Management Center
- CVE-2023-20048 Missing authorization in Cisco Firepower Management Center
Sources
Also known as GHSA-mv8w-c2qv-cgrg.