A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) could allow an authenticated, local attacker with administrative privileges to perform a command injection attack on the underlying operating system and elevate privileges to root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by providing crafted input to a specific CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate their privileges to root on the underlying operating system.
The severity level of this vulnerability is medium, with a CVSS score of 6. The potential impact includes high confidentiality and integrity risks, though availability is not affected. Organizations utilizing Cisco ISE should be aware of this vulnerability and take appropriate measures to mitigate the risks associated with it.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data and system controls, which can lead to further exploitation. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there are no known public exploits or proof of concepts available for this vulnerability. However, organizations should remain vigilant and monitor their systems for any signs of unusual activity.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-20136 affects the CLI of Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC, allowing command injection due to insufficient input validation. The CVSS score is 6, placing it in the medium severity category. The affected systems include Cisco Identity Services Engine and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector.
The publication date of this vulnerability was April 15, 2026. The associated CWE classification is CWE-116, indicating improper encoding or escaping of output.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user input within the CLI. This flaw allows local attackers with high privileges to inject malicious commands. The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have access to the system to exploit it. The attack complexity is low, and no user interaction is required, which heightens the risk.
The vulnerability requires high privileges to exploit, as the attacker must be an authenticated user. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, with no impact on availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The potential risks associated with CVE-2026-20136 could lead to severe repercussions for organizations using affected Cisco products. If exploited, attackers may gain root access, allowing them to manipulate the underlying operating system and access sensitive data. The blast radius is significant, especially for organizations that rely heavily on Cisco ISE for identity management.
Organizations should assess their deployment of Cisco ISE and prioritize remediation efforts. Given the CVSS score of 6 and the potential for exploitation by local attackers with high privileges, this vulnerability requires prompt attention in the patching cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected by this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Cisco to remediate this vulnerability. Configuration hardening and network controls should be enforced to mitigate potential risks. For more information, organizations can refer to Cisco's security advisory.penetration testing can also help validate the security posture against this vulnerability.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual command executions and system changes. Behavioral anomalies should also be tracked to identify any unauthorized access attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2026-20136 lies in the increasing trend of command injection vulnerabilities being exploited for privilege escalation. Security teams should learn from this incident to bolster their defenses. Continuous monitoring and regular security assessments are essential to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For more insights on securing your applications, organizations can refer to our resources on penetration testing methodology and vulnerability management program design to enhance your security framework.
Furthermore, organizations should stay updated on the latest security threats by following our blog on API security best practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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