CVE-2026-20079:

Critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center allows remote attackers to gain root access.

Score
A numerical rating that indicates how dangerous this vulnerability is.

10.0Critical

Published Date:Mar 4, 2026
CISA KEV Date:*No Data*
Industries Affected:20

Exploitability

Score:3.9
Attack Vector:NETWORK
Attack Complexity:LOW
Privileges Required:NONE
User Interaction:NONE
Scope:CHANGED

Impact

Score:6.0
Confidentiality Impact:HIGH
Integrity Impact:HIGH
Availability Impact:HIGH

Description Preview

Critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center allows remote attackers to gain root access.

Overview

The vulnerability in Cisco Secure FMC Software is characterized by a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0, indicating a critical severity level. It requires no user interaction or privileges for exploitation and can be attacked from the network with low complexity. The potential impact is severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability at high levels. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-288, which relates to authentication bypass issues. Given its critical nature and the potential for unauthorized root access, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected systems and should be addressed immediately.

Remediation

As of the vulnerability's publication date, specific remediation details have not been provided. However, general best practices for addressing such critical vulnerabilities include:
1. Apply any security patches or updates released by Cisco as soon as they become available.
2. Implement network segmentation to limit access to affected devices.
3. Monitor systems for suspicious activities, particularly unexpected script executions or unauthorized access attempts.
4. Strengthen access controls and authentication mechanisms where possible.
5. Consider temporarily disabling the web interface of affected devices if feasible until a patch is available.
Organizations should closely monitor Cisco's security advisories for official remediation guidance and patch releases.