# CVE-2026-20286: Cisco Identity Services Engine authorization bypass in web management interface

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20286-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-2026-20286 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.3 · Published 2026-09-16

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a network access control and identity management platform used to protect enterprise networks. A weakness in its web-based management interface allows an authenticated attacker with Administrator credentials to modify configuration settings beyond their intended permissions. The practical impact is limited to configuration tampering by insiders who already have administrative access, but could enable privilege abuse or lateral movement within the system.

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-2026-20286 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20286 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20286?** 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; 3.3 before Patch 12; 3.4 before Patch 7; 3.5 before Patch 4.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20286?** A patch was published on 2026-09-16: Patches released for ISE 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20286 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20286?** 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

This is an authorization bypass vulnerability caused by insufficient server-side validation of Administrator permissions in the web management interface of Cisco ISE. The attacker must already possess valid Administrator credentials and can exploit it by crafting and submitting a malicious HTTP request to modify configuration file descriptions on specific management pages. CVE-2026-20286 affects Cisco ISE regardless of device configuration, while a related CVE-2026-20285 also affects Cisco ISE-PIC. Cisco has confirmed that CVE-2026-20286 does not affect ISE-PIC. Patches are available: ISE 3.3 Patch 12, 3.4 Patch 7, 3.5 Patch 4, and later releases include fixes.

## Affected products

- Cisco Identity Services Engine 3.2 and earlier; 3.3 before Patch 12; 3.4 before Patch 7; 3.5 before Patch 4

## Timeline

- 2026-09-16: disclosed
- 2026-09-16: patched: Patches released for ISE 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5

## 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)