# CVE-2026-20285: Cisco Identity Services Engine authorization bypass in web management interface

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20285-cisco-identity-services-engine-authorization-bypass-in-web  
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-2026-20285 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.3 · Published 2026-09-16

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a network security platform that manages authentication and access control across enterprise networks. A flaw in its web-based administrative interface allows authenticated administrators to bypass permission checks and modify system configuration that should be restricted. An attacker with valid admin credentials could exploit this to alter system settings beyond their authorization level.

Technologies: [Cisco Identity Services Engine](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/identity-services-engine), [Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/ise-passive-identity-connector). Vendors: [Cisco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/cisco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20285 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20285 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20285?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.3, published 16 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Cisco Identity Services Engine 3.2 and earlier; Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector 3.4 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20285?** 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-2026-20285 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20285?** Check whether you run Cisco Identity Services Engine or Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector 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

This vulnerability stems from insufficient server-side validation of Administrator permissions in the ISE web management interface (CWE-285: Improper Authorization). An authenticated attacker with valid Administrator credentials can submit a crafted HTTP request to bypass permission checks and modify configuration elements (such as file descriptions) that should be restricted to higher-privilege roles. The attack requires valid administrative credentials and network access to the management interface, but no user interaction. The vulnerability affects ISE releases 3.2 and earlier; fixes are available in ISE 3.3 Patch 12, 3.4 Patch 7, and 3.5 Patch 4, with ISE-PIC 3.4 being the final supported release.

## Affected products

- Cisco Identity Services Engine 3.2 and earlier
- Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector 3.4 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2026-09-16: disclosed
- 2026-09-16: advisory

## References

- [https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-auth-bypass-1-MxcTNgwx](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-auth-bypass-1-MxcTNgwx)

## 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)