PatchTheCVECVE-2026-20079: Cisco Firewall Management Center Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability
CVE-2026-20079 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting secure firewall management center, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
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 a
Why this priority
- Critical severity
- EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
- Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Public exploit reference
- CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
- Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 10.0 (Critical) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 88.5% (top 1%) |
| CISA exploited list | Yes, fix due 2026-09-12 |
| Weakness | CWE-288 |
| Published | 2026-03-04 |
| Last modified | 2026-09-16 |
Last updated 2026-09-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
- Updated Record last modified
Exact fixes by distribution
Public exploits and detection
Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.
- GitHub PoC: CyberAuth/CVE-2026-20079 (6 stars)
- GitHub PoC: 0xBlackash/CVE-2026-20079 (0 stars)
- GitHub PoC: DiegoArias008/CVE-2026-20079-checker (0 stars)
- Metasploit: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Authentication Bypass RCE
- Nuclei scan template: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center - Authentication Bypass
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Quick answers
How do I fix CVE-2026-20079?
secure firewall management center: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2026-20079 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2026-20079 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.
What does CVE-2026-20079 affect?
CVE-2026-20079 affects secure firewall management center. Severity is critical (CVSS 10.0). 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
How urgent is CVE-2026-20079?
Priority 98/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
Software pages
Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-20316 MEDIUM 5.3 EXPLOITED UPGRADE Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Use of Hard-coded Password Vulnerability