CVE-2026-20288: A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack

Routine

MEDIUM 6.5MITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2026-20288 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting unified computing system, unified computing system e-series software. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with Admin privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected system and elevate privileges to root.  This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by entering crafted inputs to the web-based management interface

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 50%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-146
Published	2026-08-05
Last modified	2026-09-16

Publisher (CNA): Cisco Systems, Inc. · Vendor: cisco

Last updated 2026-09-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-08-05 17:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-09-16 04:18 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cisco unified computing system MITIGATE

Affected: 3.1\(1d\) · 3.1\(2b\) · 3.1\(2c\) · 3.1\(2d\) · 3.1\(2e\) · 3.1\(2g\) · 3.1\(2i\) · 3.1\(3a\)

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy unified-computing-system || rpm -q unified-computing-system || unified-computing-system --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

cisco unified computing system e-series software MITIGATE

Affected: 3.1.0 · 3.1.1 · 3.1.2 · 3.1.3 · 3.1.4 · 3.1.5 · 3.2.1 · 3.2.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.1.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
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-2026-20288?

unified computing system: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; unified computing system e-series software: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-20288 being exploited?

CVE-2026-20288 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-20288 affect?

CVE-2026-20288 affects unified computing system, unified computing system e-series software. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with Admin privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected system and elevate p

How urgent is CVE-2026-20288?

Priority 35/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

Cisco vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-20096 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack
CVE-2026-20088 MEDIUM 4.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack
CVE-2026-20090 MEDIUM 4.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack
CVE-2026-20094 HIGH 8.8 MITIGATE MITIGATE A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack
CVE-2026-20095 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IMC could allow an authenticated, remote attack

References

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