---
title: "CVE-2026-20122: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-20122/
description: "CVE-2026-20122 (Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manger): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). A vulnerability in the API of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-02-25
date_modified: 2026-04-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-20122"
kev: true
cvss: 5.4
epss: 0.25476
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-20122: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs 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 Catalyst SD-WAN Manger. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-04-20, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-04-23 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 25.5% , percentile 98: FIRST’s model estimates a 25.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 98% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.

## What it is

A vulnerability in the API of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the local file system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid read-only credentials with API access on the affected system. This vulnerability is due to improper file handling on the API interface of an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious file on the local file system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the affected system and gain vmanage user privileges.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Cisco Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager: 20.1.12, 19.2.1, 18.4.4, 18.4.5, 20.1.1.1, 20.1.1, 19.3.0, 19.2.2, 19.2.099, 18.3.6, 18.3.7, 19.2.0

## Severity

- cisco CVSS 3.1: 5.4 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-04-20; federal due date 2026-04-23. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Please adhere to CISA’s guidelines to assess exposure and mitigate risks associated with Cisco SD-WAN devices as outlines in CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-03 (URL listed below in Notes) and CISA’s “Hunt & Hardening Guidance for Cisco SD-WAN Devices (URL listed below in Notes). Adhere to the applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are not available.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 25.48% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 98.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-authbp-qwCX8D4v)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-20122](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20122)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-20122](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20122)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20122)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/ed-26-03-mitigate-vulnerabilities-cisco-sd-wan-systems)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/supplemental-direction-ed-26-03-hunt-and-hardening-guidance-cisco-sd-wan-systems)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-20122/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt