Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager is affected by a medium-severity vulnerability (CVE-2026-20262) that is confirmed to be actively exploited in the wild. Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
What is this vulnerability?
A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly SD-WAN vManage, could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to create a file or overwrite any file on the filesystem of an affected system. This vulnerability exists because the affected software does not properly validate user-supplied input during a file upload process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected API endpoint of the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to create or overwrite any file on the underlying operating system. This file could later be used to elevate to root. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid credentials with at least a lower-privileged, single-task user account.
How it works
This is classified as Path Traversal. In plain terms, an attacker could use this flaw in Catalyst SD-WAN Manager to gain access, disrupt service, or steal data — the exact impact depends on how it’s deployed in your environment.
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Mitigations
- Apply the vendor’s security patch or update as soon as it’s available and tested.
- If no patch exists yet, apply the vendor’s temporary workaround.
- Limit network exposure of the affected system until it’s patched.
- Review logs for signs of prior exploitation, especially if it’s flagged for ransomware use.
Recommendations
- Confirm whether Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager is used anywhere in your environment.
- Patch internet-facing systems first, then internal ones.
- Set a reminder ahead of the remediation deadline so it doesn’t slip.
- Subscribe to the vendor’s security advisories for earlier warning next time.
Compiled from public threat intelligence (CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and the National Vulnerability Database, referenced in 2 public advisories).