---
title: "CVE-2026-20045: Cisco Unified Communications Products Code Injection Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-20045/
description: "CVE-2026-20045 (Cisco Unified Communications Manager): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-01-21
date_modified: 2026-02-26
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-20045"
kev: true
cvss: 8.2
epss: 0.04541
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-20045: Cisco Unified Communications Products Code Injection Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Cisco Unified Communications Manager. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-01-21, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-02-11 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 4.5% , percentile 92: FIRST’s model estimates a 4.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 92% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.

## What it is

A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root.  Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Cisco Cisco Unified Communications Manager: 12.5(1)SU2, 12.5(1)SU1, 12.5(1), 12.5(1)SU3, 12.5(1)SU4, 14, 12.5(1)SU5, 14SU1, 12.5(1)SU6, 14SU2, 12.5(1)SU7, 12.5(1)SU7a
- Cisco Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM and Presence Service: 12.5(1), 12.5(1)SU1, 12.5(1)SU2, 12.5(1)SU3, 12.5(1)SU4, 14, 12.5(1)SU5, 14SU1, 12.5(1)SU6, 14SU2, 14SU2a, 12.5(1)SU7
- Cisco Cisco Unity Connection: 12.5(1), 12.5(1)SU1, 12.5(1)SU2, 12.5(1)SU3, 12.5(1)SU4, 14, 12.5(1)SU5, 14SU1, 12.5(1)SU6, 14SU2, 12.5(1)SU7, 14SU3

## Severity

- cisco CVSS 3.1: 8.2 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-01-21; federal due date 2026-02-11. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 4.54% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 92.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-voice-rce-mORhqY4b)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-20045](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20045)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-20045](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20045)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20045)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-20045/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt