# CVE-2026-20284: Cisco Identity Services Engine SQL injection in SXP REST API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20284-cisco-identity-services-engine-sql-injection-in-sxp-rest-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-16. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20284 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.1 · Published 2026-09-16

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a network access and policy management platform used to authenticate and authorize users and devices. A SQL injection vulnerability in the SXP (Secure Group Tag Exchange Protocol) REST API allows authenticated administrators to view, modify, or delete database records. In single-node deployments, exploitation could cause complete service outage, blocking new endpoint access to the network until the system is restored.

Technologies: [Cisco Identity Services Engine](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/identity-services-engine). Vendors: [Cisco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/cisco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20284 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20284 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20284?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.1, published 16 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Cisco Identity Services Engine <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20284?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-20284 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20284?** Check whether you run Cisco Identity Services Engine at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a SQL injection flaw (CWE-641) in the SXP REST API resulting from insufficient input validation on REST API calls. An authenticated attacker with valid administrative credentials can exploit this by sending maliciously crafted input to an affected device. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary SQL queries, viewing or modifying the underlying database. The attack requires network access to the ISE REST API, valid administrative credentials, the SXP service enabled, and at least one SXP connection configured. In single-node deployments, exploitation can cause denial of service, preventing unauthenticated endpoints from accessing the network. Cisco has released software patches to address this vulnerability; no workarounds are available.

## Affected products

- Cisco Identity Services Engine <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-09-16: disclosed

## References

- [https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-mult-vul-ymSsTLCc](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-mult-vul-ymSsTLCc)

## Related threats

- [Cisco Identity Services Engine authorization bypass in management interface](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20183-a-vulnerability-in-the-web-based-management-interface-of-cisco)
- [Cisco Identity Services Engine authorization bypass in certificate enrollment](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20241-a-vulnerability-in-the-authorization-mechanism-of-cisco-identity)
- [A vulnerability in an API of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76460-cisco-identity-services-engine-incorrect-privileged-api-use)
- [Cisco ISE SQL and HQL injection in APIs](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76451-cisco-ise-sql-and-hql-injection-in-apis)
- [Cisco Identity Services Engine SQL and HQL injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76450-cisco-identity-services-engine-sql-and-hql-injection)