# CVE-2026-20160: Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem hosts due to exposed internal services.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 2 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wmm4-pvrx-wvv8

## What is CVE-2026-20160?

CVE-2026-20160 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem, published on 1 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem (SSM On-Prem) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected SSM On-Prem host.

This vulnerability is due to the unintentional exposure of an internal service. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the API of the exposed service. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying operating system with root-level privileges.

Weakness: CWE-668 (Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20160?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-20160?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20160 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-20160 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20160 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem

- [CVE-2024-20419](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20419/): Auth bypass in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-3158](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3158/): Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem Static Default Credential Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3443](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3443/): Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-16029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16029/): Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem Web Interface Denial of Service Vulnerability (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2021-1219](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1219/): Cisco Smart Software Manager Satellite Static Credential Vulnerability (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-20160 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-20160 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem, published on 1 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20160 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20160/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20160/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20160
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20160
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20160

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20160/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.