CVE-2026-20182
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitCisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Published May 14, 2026 · Updated Jun 17, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2026-20182 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 10.0 v3.1) affecting Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (Cisco), SD-WAN Vbond Orchestrator (Cisco), SD-WAN Vsmart Controller (Cisco) and 1 more product.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since May 14, 2026. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 92% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.12.5.4, Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.12.6.2, Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.15.4.4.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
10.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
92%
Higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2026-20182 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
May 2026: This security advisory provides the details and fix information for a vulnerability that was discovered and fixed after the was disclosed in February 2026. This new advisory is for a new vulnerability in the control connection handshaking. The section of this advisory includes Show Control Connections guidance to help with system checks.
A vulnerability in the peering authentication in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller, formerly SD-WAN vSmart, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly SD-WAN vManage, and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator, formerly SD-WAN vBond, could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and obtain administrative privileges on an affected system. This vulnerability exists because the peering authentication mechanism in an affected system is not working properly. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to an affected Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller as an internal, high-privileged, non-root user account. Using this account, the attacker could access NETCONF, which would then allow the attacker to manipulate network configuration for the SD-WAN fabric.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | May 14, 2026 | May 17, 2026 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | May 14, 2026 | May 17, 2026 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | May 14, 2026 | May 17, 2026 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | May 14, 2026 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Please adhere to CISA’s guidelines to assess exposure and mitigate risks associated with Cisco SD-WAN devices as outlined in CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-03 (URL listed below in Notes) and CISA’s Hunt & Hardening Guidance for Cisco SD-WAN Devices (URL listed below in Notes). Adhere to the applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are not available.
Affected Products
8 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Catalyst SD-WAN ManagerCisco | 20.12.7, >= 20.1.12 | 20.9.9.1 |
| SD-WAN Vbond OrchestratorCisco | 20.12.7 | 20.9.9.1 |
| SD-WAN Vsmart ControllerCisco | 20.12.7 | 20.9.9.1 |
| Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller | >= 20.6.4 | n/a |
Patched Releases
Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
20.12.5.4, 20.12.6.2, 20.15.4.4, 20.15.5.2, 20.18.2.2, 20.9.9.1, 26.1.1.1
SD-WAN Vbond Orchestrator
20.12.5.4, 20.12.6.2, 20.15.4.4, 20.15.5.2, 20.18.2.2, 20.9.9.1, 26.1.1.1
SD-WAN Vsmart Controller
20.12.5.4, 20.12.6.2, 20.15.4.4, 20.15.5.2, 20.18.2.2, 20.9.9.1, 26.1.1.1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
May 14, 2026
Added to CISA KEV
May 14, 2026
Added to Industry KEV feed
May 14, 2026
Added to CIRCL KEV
May 14, 2026
Added to ENISA EUVD
May 14, 2026
Last updated
Jun 17, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-287 Improper Authentication
References
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- othercisco-sa-sdwan-rpa2-v69WY2SW
FAQ
Common Questions.
May 2026: This security advisory provides the details and fix information for a vulnerability that was discovered and fixed after the was disclosed in February 2026.
Affected: Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (Cisco) versions 20.12.7, >= 20.1.12; SD-WAN Vbond Orchestrator (Cisco) versions 20.12.7; SD-WAN Vsmart Controller (Cisco) versions 20.12.7, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since May 14, 2026.
Yes. It was added on May 14, 2026 with a federal remediation due date of May 17, 2026.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.12.5.4, Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.12.6.2, Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.15.4.4.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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