# CVE-2026-20358: Cisco Crosswork external file system control vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20358-cisco-crosswork-external-file-system-control-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20358 · Severity: critical · CVSS 10 · Published 2026-08-19

Cisco Crosswork is a network operations platform used for managing and orchestrating telecommunications infrastructure. CVE-2026-20358 represents a critical vulnerability allowing external attackers to manipulate the file system without authentication, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, and service disruption. The vulnerability was discovered during Cisco's internal security review and is not currently being exploited in the wild.

Technologies: [Cisco Crosswork Network Controller](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/crosswork-network-controller), [Cisco Crosswork Planning](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/crosswork-planning), [Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/crosswork-workflow-manager), [Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/crosswork-data-gateway). Vendors: [Cisco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/cisco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20358 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20358 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20358?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 10, published 19 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Cisco Crosswork Network Controller 7.2.1 and earlier; Cisco Crosswork Planning 7.2.1 and earlier; Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager 2.1.1 and earlier; Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway 7.2.1 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20358?** A patch was published on 2026-08-19: Fixed releases available: 7.2.1-SP (Data Gateway, Network Controller, Planning) and 2.1.1-SP (Workflow Manager) Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20358 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20358?** Check whether you run Cisco Crosswork Network Controller, Cisco Crosswork Planning, Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager or one of the others listed 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

CVE-2026-20358 is grouped under CWE-73 (External Control of File System Pathname), allowing attackers to manipulate file system operations. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable with no authentication required and low attack complexity (CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H). The issue affects Crosswork Data Gateway, Crosswork Network Controller, Crosswork Planning, and Crosswork Workflow Manager versions 7.2.1 and earlier (Workflow Manager 2.1.1 and earlier). Cisco has released patches available in versions 7.2.1-SP and 2.1.1-SP; no workarounds exist.

## Affected products

- Cisco Crosswork Data Gateway 7.2.1 and earlier
- Cisco Crosswork Network Controller 7.2.1 and earlier
- Cisco Crosswork Planning 7.2.1 and earlier
- Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager 2.1.1 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2026-08-19: disclosed: Cisco published the security advisory for the hardening release
- 2026-08-19: patched: Fixed releases available: 7.2.1-SP (Data Gateway, Network Controller, Planning) and 2.1.1-SP (Workflow Manager)

## References

- [https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hardening-crosswork-UzDTU9Vh](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hardening-crosswork-UzDTU9Vh)
- [https://www.cve.org/Media/News/item/blog/2026/06/16/Preserving-Vulnerability-Level-Identification](https://www.cve.org/Media/News/item/blog/2026/06/16/Preserving-Vulnerability-Level-Identification)

## Related threats

- [Cisco Crosswork insufficiently protected credentials](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20359-cisco-crosswork-insufficiently-protected-credentials)
- [Cisco Crosswork missing authentication for critical functions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20357-cisco-crosswork-missing-authentication-for-critical-functions)
- [Cisco Crosswork SQL injection in multiple products](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20030-cisco-crosswork-sql-injection-in-multiple-products)
- [Cisco Crosswork Network Controller command injection in template engine](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20220-cisco-crosswork-network-controller-command-injection-in-template)
- [Cisco Crosswork Network Controller and NSO resource management issue](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20188-cisco-crosswork-network-controller-and-nso-resource-management)