Improper Neutralization Vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software
CVE-2026-20272

9.8CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor

Cisco
Status
Cisco iOS Xe Software
Vendor
CVE Published:
5 August 2026

Badges

👾 Exploit Exists

What is CVE-2026-20272?

The vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software arises from improper neutralization of special elements, specifically categorized under the CWE-74. This issue was identified during a thorough internal security review aimed at enhancing software resilience. Cisco's engineering team has implemented software hardening releases to address these vulnerabilities effectively, thereby improving the overall security posture of their products. Users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest versions to mitigate potential risks associated with these vulnerabilities.

Affected Version(s)

Cisco IOS XE Software 17.2.1a

Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1y

Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.3s

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/C...

CVSS V3.1

Score:
9.8
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
None
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • 👾

    Exploit known to exist

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

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