CVE-2026-20182KEV · OVERDUECWE-287

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Critical · published May 14, 2026

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it critical at 10.0. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 99.8th percentile for exploit probability.

159
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
10.0
EPSS
92%
Percentile
99.8
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky flaw in the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN authentication could let an attacker waltz right in as a high-privileged user — no password required! 🔥 Think of it like a doorman who lets anyone into a VIP club without checking IDs. Once inside, the uninvited guest can change the music, adjust the lights, or even control the guest list – chaos ensues! If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to hijack administrative privileges on your network, manipulate configurations, and wreak absolute havoc on your SD-WAN setup. The potential for data loss and service disruption is mind-blowingly serious!

Put simply

Think of it like a doorman who lets anyone into a VIP club without checking IDs. Once inside, the uninvited guest can change the music, adjust the lights, or even control the guest list – chaos ensues! The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the peering authentication process in the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN ecosystem, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to send crafted requests and gain unauthorized access.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to hijack administrative privileges on your network, manipulate configurations, and wreak absolute havoc on your SD-WAN setup. The potential for data loss and service disruption is mind-blowingly serious! Act fast! Update your affected Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN components to the latest patched versions immediately to lock down your system. Additionally, review your control connections and implement the Show Control Connections guidance to maintain a secure environment. You've got this! Follow the steps and secure your network like the hero you are! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
10.0 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.91817 · 99.8th percentile
Weakness
CWE-287 · Improper Authentication
Published
2026-05-14T16:08Z
KEV added
2026-05-14 · due 2026-05-17
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 14 MAY 16:08Z
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
    cvelistv5
  • 14 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by May 17
    kev