Metasploit adds 16 modules including 10 exploits, five covering CISA KEV vulnerabilities in Cisco, SonicWall, PaperCut, JetBrains and Langflow.
Rapid7's weekly Metasploit update ships 16 new modules, 10 of them exploit modules, with five targeting CISA KEV entries. New exploits cover Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center auth bypass (CVE-2026-20079), a SonicWall SMA1000 SSRF-to-root RCE chain (CVE-2026-83548/CVE-2026-83549), JetBrains TeamCity deserialization RCE (CVE-2026-63077), PaperCut NG/MF chain (CVE-2026-81578/CVE-2026-82078), and Langflow authenticated RCE (CVE-2026-19295). The SonicWall and PaperCut chains were reported as actively exploited zero-days, and a new ESC8 relay module exploits CVE-2026-20929 against AD CS Web Enrollment.
Three threat groups, including Qilin ransomware operators, exploit critical Cisco FMC flaws CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316 for root access, credential theft, and ransomware.
Cisco Talos identified three post-compromise clusters exploiting recently patched Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center flaws. UAT-12197 deploys JSP web shells and harvests credentials; UAT-11823 (with Sandworm-overlapping tooling) installs Cyclops Blink for persistence; UAT-11988 (Qilin) uses static credentials, extensive reconnaissance, SOCKS5 proxies, reverse-SSH tunnels, AV killers, and ransomware deployment. CISA added CVE-2026-20079 to the KEV catalog with a September 12, 2026 patch deadline for federal agencies; Cisco urges immediate hotfix application.
GBHackers ranks 12 server security solutions for 2026, naming CrowdStrike and SentinelOne as server EDR leaders and Trend Micro Deep Security top for virtual patching.
The guide scores 12 server security platforms across five weighted criteria, with detection and response depth and Linux parity weighted 25% each. CrowdStrike and SentinelOne lead server EDR, Trend Micro Deep Security is highlighted for virtual patching of unpatchable estates, and Microsoft Defender for Servers is noted for Azure and hybrid economics. It is an editorial assessment comparing features and pricing models rather than a lab test.
Three threat clusters including a Sandworm-linked group and Qilin ransomware operators exploit Cisco FMC flaws CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316.
Cisco Talos identified three clusters of post-compromise activity exploiting CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0, unauthenticated web-interface authentication bypass enabling root code execution) and CVE-2026-20316 (CVSS 5.3, low-privilege login exposing sensitive data) in Secure Firewall Management Center. UAT-12197 deployed JSP web shells and a JAR-based command executor to query internal databases for credentials; UAT-11823 used a Netcat reverse shell, configuration-harvesting scripts and a Cyclops Blink variant previously attributed to Russia's Sandworm; UAT-11988 used living-off-the-land FMC tooling for reconnaissance before deploying Qilin ransomware. CISA added CVE-2026-20079 to its KEV catalog, requiring FCEB agencies to patch by September 12, 2026; CVE-2026-20316 was added in late July 2026.
Threat actors actively exploit Cisco FMC CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0) for root access, with clusters linked to Sandworm and Qilin ransomware.
Cisco Talos warns of active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079, a CVSS 10.0 authentication bypass in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center allowing unauthenticated root-level code execution, and CVE-2026-20316 (CVSS 5.3), which permits login via a low-privileged static account for privilege escalation. Hotfixes are available now, with a broader hardening release planned for the week of September 14. Three post-compromise activity clusters were identified: UAT-12197 deployed a home.jsp web shell and cmd.jar command executor; UAT-11823, attributed with high confidence to a Sandworm-linked APT, deployed a Netcat reverse shell and Cyclops Blink; and UAT-11988 showed Qilin ransomware tactics including Active Directory enumeration and credential theft before deploying Qilin ransomware.
Canada's Cyber Centre warns of three exploited MikroTik RouterOS vulnerabilities affecting SSH-exposed devices; CISA added two to its KEV catalog.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued alert AL26-020 for three MikroTik RouterOS vulnerabilities, especially on devices exposing SSH to the internet: CVE-2026-67277 (missing authentication, CWE-306, enabling sensitive information disclosure), CVE-2026-86060 (argument injection, CWE-88, enabling privilege escalation), and CVE-2026-67276 (improper cryptographic signature verification, CWE-347, allowing SSH command channel access without the private key). On September 10, 2026, CISA added CVE-2026-67277 and CVE-2026-86060 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Fixed versions include RouterOS 6.49.21, 7.23.4 (Long-Term), 7.24.2 (Stable), and 7.25 beta 3.
CISA added actively exploited Cisco FMC, Chrome V8, Fortinet and Citrix NetScaler flaws to its KEV catalog, ordering federal patching by September 12.
CISA added four actively exploited vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0) is an unauthenticated authentication bypass in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center's web interface enabling script execution and potential root access. CVE-2026-87491 (CVSS 8.8) is an out-of-bounds write in Chrome's V8 engine — the seventh actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026 — fixed in Chrome 153.0.8010.36. CVE-2025-25249 (CVSS 8.1) is a heap-based buffer overflow in FortiOS/FortiSwitchManager's cw_acd daemon being exploited with the PivotC2 RAT, and CVE-2026-19490 (CVSS 9.3) is a NetScaler SAML HTTP-Redirect authentication bypass; federal agencies must patch by September 12, 2026.
Cisco Talos confirms ransomware and state-sponsored groups exploited CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316 in Secure Firewall Management Center, deploying Qilin ransomware and Cyclops Blink.
Cisco Talos identified three threat clusters (UAT-12197, UAT-11823, UAT-11988) exploiting CVE-2026-20079, a CVSS 10.0 authentication bypass, and CVE-2026-20316, a CVSS 5.3 static-credential flaw, in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. Qilin affiliates used static credentials for reconnaissance and deployed Qilin ransomware; a Sandworm-linked cluster deployed a Cyclops Blink backdoor via a malicious license.tmp file; a third cluster stole credentials through a JSP web shell. Cisco has released hotfixes and urges immediate installation, with broader patches expected next week.
State-sponsored and ransomware actors actively exploit critical Cisco FMC flaws CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0) and CVE-2026-20316 to gain root access and deploy ransomware.
Cisco Talos confirmed in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0, unauthenticated authentication bypass enabling root command execution) and CVE-2026-20316 (CVSS 5.3, hard-coded static credentials) in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. Three activity clusters were identified: UAT-12197 dropping a JSP web shell and credential harvester; UAT-11823, assessed as Sandworm, deploying a Cyclops Blink variant; and UAT-11988, a Qilin ransomware affiliate chaining the flaws before deploying ransomware. CISA added both CVEs to the KEV catalog with a September 12 remediation deadline for federal agencies.
Cisco confirms active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079, a maximum-severity authentication bypass in Secure Firewall Management Center.
Cisco has confirmed that CVE-2026-20079, a critical authentication bypass in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC), is being actively exploited in the wild. The vulnerability carries a maximum CVSS severity, and defenders are urged to treat it as an urgent patch priority. FMC centrally manages Cisco Secure Firewall deployments, so exposure across enterprise environments is likely.
Nvidia and Palantir integrated open Nemotron models and cuOpt into Foundry to run AI-driven supply chains, starting with Nvidia's million-part operation.
Nvidia and Palantir announced a partnership to run supply chains with AI, first deployed on Nvidia's own network of millions of parts and thousands of suppliers; a single Vera Rubin rack contains 1.3 million components. Palantir is integrating open Nemotron models into its Foundry platform for customer fine-tuning, while Nvidia cuOpt handles scenario planning and optimization, with decisions fed back to improve models over time. The stack runs on customer hardware or in the cloud through the Sovereign AI OS reference architecture with infrastructure partners Dell, Cisco, Rackspace, and Nebius, with more details shown at AIPCon 11.
Cisco Talos confirms nation-state (Sandworm) and ransomware (Qilin) actors actively exploit CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316 in Secure Firewall Management Center.
CVE-2026-20079 is a critical unauthenticated authentication bypass in the FMC web interface allowing root-level script and command execution via crafted HTTP requests; CVE-2026-20316 stems from static hard-coded credentials enabling unauthenticated logins. Cisco Talos detailed three intrusion clusters: web shell and JAR deployment for credential theft, a Sandworm-attributed reverse shell and credential-harvesting implant, and a suspected Qilin ransomware operator chain. Cisco urges immediate hotfixes ahead of a comprehensive hardening release the week of September 16, or taking the FMC management interface offline.
CISA adds actively exploited Cisco, Citrix, and Fortinet edge-device flaws to KEV catalog, ordering federal agencies to patch by September 12, 2026.
CISA added CVE-2026-20079 (Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center authentication bypass, CVSS 10.0), CVE-2026-19490 (Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway authentication bypass, CVSS 9.3), and CVE-2025-25249 (FortiOS heap buffer overflow, CVSS 7.3) to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a September 12, 2026 deadline for FCEB agencies. Cisco confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079 in August 2026, while Previdian honeypots logged 56 NetScaler exploitation attempts since September 3. SOCRadar attributes Fortinet exploitation to a financially motivated Russian-speaking actor deploying the PivotC2 Node.js RAT, infecting 178 of over 3,000 targeted IP addresses, mostly in the US.
Cisco and CISA warn that critical FMC authentication bypass CVE-2026-20079 is actively exploited; CISA added it to the KEV catalog with a September 12 deadline.
Cisco and CISA flagged active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079, a critical authentication bypass in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center allowing remote, unauthenticated attackers to run malicious scripts and gain root access via crafted HTTP requests. Cisco patched the flaw in early March and added IoCs in late July, but confirmed active exploitation in its September 9 advisory; CISA added it to the KEV catalog requiring federal remediation by September 12. Talos identified three activity clusters exploiting CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316, including state-sponsored and financially motivated actors, and this is the third FMC vulnerability in KEV this year after CVE-2026-20316 and CVE-2026-20131.
Cisco Talos argues restrictive frontier AI models impose a 'safety penalty' that hampers security teams' real-time incident response.
A featured Cisco Talos post contends that increasingly restrictive frontier AI models create a 'safety penalty' slowing defenders' real-time incident response, and advocates 'operational sovereignty' so defensive AI keeps pace with unconstrained adversaries. The blog index also promotes a Beers with Talos podcast episode on how threat intelligence is gathered. The page is a blog listing rather than a single news story.
Cisco confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079, a CVSS 10.0 authentication bypass enabling unauthenticated root command execution in Secure FMC; CISA added it to KEV.
Cisco confirmed in August 2026 that CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0), an unauthenticated authentication bypass in Secure Firewall Management Center, is being actively exploited, allowing remote attackers to execute scripts and commands as root via crafted HTTP requests to the web interface. CISA added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, ordering federal civilian agencies to patch by September 12, 2026. Shared IOCs, identical hot fixes, and a July 23 log entry suggest CVE-2026-20079 was used alongside the separately exploited static-credential flaw CVE-2026-20316 in the same attacks. Cisco released patches and cloud fixes, warns hot fixes do not remediate already-compromised devices, and says there are no workarounds.
CISA added Cisco CVE-2026-20079 to its KEV catalog; the Canadian Cyber Centre urges updates across Secure Firewall ASA, FTD, FMC, and SCC products.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security updated advisory AV26-197 covering March 2026 Cisco advisories for Security Cloud Control, Secure Firewall Management Center, ASA, and FTD. Cisco confirmed CVE-2026-20131 was actively exploited on March 18, 2026, and CISA added it to KEV on March 19. In Update 3, dated September 9, 2026, CISA added CVE-2026-20079 to the KEV catalog. The underlying flaws include FMC authentication bypass and remote code execution, ASA TCP-flood denial of service, and ASA/FTD IPsec denial of service.
Cisco Talos reports in-the-wild exploitation of critical FMC flaw CVE-2026-20079 by three clusters including a Sandworm-linked APT and Qilin ransomware affiliates.
Cisco Talos is tracking active exploitation of CVE-2026-20079 (CVSS 10.0), an authentication bypass in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center that lets unauthenticated remote attackers execute scripts and obtain root access, and CVE-2026-20316 (CVSS 5.3), which permits low-privileged logins and can be chained for privilege escalation. Talos identified three post-compromise clusters: UAT-12197 deploying JSP web shells and a JAR command executor for credential theft; UAT-11823, an APT overlapping with Sandworm, deploying a Netcat reverse shell and Cyclops Blink malware; and UAT-11988, assessed as a ransomware operator with TTPs consistent with Qilin affiliates. Hotfixes are available, with a comprehensive hardening release due the week of September 14, 2026.
Cisco warns of a critical authentication bypass in Secure Firewall Management Center that lets unauthenticated attackers execute scripts and obtain root access.
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute script files on an affected device to obtain root access to the underlying operating system. The flaw stems from an improper system process created at boot time and is triggered via crafted HTTP requests. If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface is limited.
Cisco will publish security advisories with fixed software on September 16, 2026, covering BroadWorks, ISE, Nexus Dashboard, ASA, FMC, FTD and ThousandEyes.
Cisco PSIRT announced advance notification for security advisories to be published on September 16, 2026, along with fixed software releases. Affected products include BroadWorks CommPilot Application Software, Identity Services Engine (ISE), Nexus Dashboard, Secure Firewall ASA, Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC), Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD), and ThousandEyes Virtual Appliance. ISE, Nexus Dashboard and the Secure Firewall products receive security hardening releases, and the ASA, FMC and FTD advisories will be included in the same combined release.
An equipment rental company uses Horizon3 NodeZero for continuous exposure management, surfacing an SSH key exposure in eight hours versus annual pentesting.
The company moved from periodic penetration testing to continuous exposure management using the NodeZero Proactive Security Platform, feeding telemetry into a Splunk-based CTEM pipeline via Horizon3 APIs. NodeZero exposed SSH RSA key pairs from a PHP web server change about eight hours after introduction and found more findings in 12 hours than a third-party engagement found in roughly 30 days. An Active Directory password audit of 15,000 passwords found about 300 identical or similar compromised passwords, driving a banned-password list, 12-character minimums, service desk changes, and self-service reset rollout; users with similar passwords later dropped from 880 to 209. NodeZero also validated a suspected Cisco vulnerability as exploitable.
Cisco Talos details a ClickFix campaign injecting browser JavaScript via Google Sheets to skim crypto deposits, stealing at least ~0.159 BTC since October 2025
Cisco Talos reported a months-long ClickFix campaign that shifted from OS command execution to injecting JavaScript through Chrome's address bar or the Tampermonkey extension into sessions on two cryptocurrency trading sites. Since March 2026 the operators fetch obfuscated payloads via the Google Visualization API from public Google Sheets, replacing displayed deposit addresses and amounts and overriding the fetch API, and the campaign survived two disruption attempts. Talos observed 49 Bitcoin addresses with 24 receiving at least 0.159 BTC (~$10,000) by early August, with proceeds routed through roughly 30 wallets and more than 3,000 addresses in apparent mixing. Lures posed as leaked vulnerability reports describing non-existent API flaws at crypto swap services, promising payouts up to 38% higher.
CISA added four actively exploited vulnerabilities—Fortinet buffer overflow, Citrix NetScaler and Cisco auth bypasses, and a Chromium V8 write—to the KEV Catalog.
CISA added CVE-2025-25249 (Fortinet heap-based buffer overflow), CVE-2026-19490 (Citrix NetScaler authentication bypass), CVE-2026-87491 (Google Chromium V8 out-of-bounds write), and CVE-2026-20079 (Cisco Firewall Management Center authentication bypass) to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog based on evidence of active exploitation. Under Binding Operational Directive 26-04, Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies must prioritize rapid remediation of these high-risk vulnerabilities on exposed assets and verify whether systems were compromised before patching. CISA encourages all organizations to adopt risk-based vulnerability management and prioritize KEV Catalog remediation.
Buyer's guide compares 12 XDR platforms, favoring Microsoft Defender XDR, Stellar Cyber and CrowdStrike, and warns ingestion pricing inflates costs.
The article compares 12 extended detection and response platforms, distinguishing native XDR (CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Cortex XDR, Microsoft Defender XDR, SentinelOne) from open XDR (Stellar Cyber, Arctic Wolf, Rapid7). It argues data ingestion pricing, not per-endpoint fees, is the main budget risk and should be modeled before signing. It repeats the consolidation note that Sophos acquired Secureworks for approximately $859 million in February 2025, and flags that ExtraHop is NDR rather than full XDR.
Cisco patched seven IOS XR vulnerabilities, two rated CVSS 9.8, allowing unauthenticated remote code execution and root access on carrier routers; no exploitation observed.
Cisco released fixes for seven internally discovered vulnerabilities in IOS XR, its Linux-based network operating system for carrier-grade routers. Two flaws, CVE-2026-20274 and CVE-2026-20279, are rated CVSS 9.8 (critical) and involve lifetime resource control issues that can enable unauthenticated remote code execution with root access; the other five are rated 8.2-8.8 and cover buffer overflows, access control failures, and out-of-bounds access. All IOS XR releases including IOS XR7 are affected regardless of configuration, no workarounds exist, and remediation requires software maintenance upgrades (SMUs) or fixed releases 26.2.2/26.3.1. Cisco says the flaws are not known to be actively exploited, but experts urge immediate patching of internet-facing and core routing systems, citing parallels with Salt Typhoon tradecraft.
Microsoft's September Patch Tuesday fixes a record 974 flaws, including two actively exploited Windows zero-days and critical DNS and Windows Shell bugs.
Microsoft released fixes for 974 vulnerabilities, its largest-ever monthly patch batch, bringing the 2026 total above 2,600. Two zero-day privilege elevation flaws, CVE-2026-81963 and CVE-2026-85880, are being actively exploited. Critical bugs include CVE-2026-69730, an unauthenticated DNS weakness in Windows Server 2012 onward and Windows 10 deemed likely to be exploited, and CVE-2026-69829, a CVSS 9.8 Windows Shell remote code execution flaw requiring no privileges or user interaction. Microsoft and other vendors credit AI-assisted discovery for the growing patch volumes.
Cisco disclosed a UEFI Secure Boot bypass in UCS servers and UCS-based appliances letting authenticated or physically present attackers execute unauthorized software.
Cisco published an advisory for a vulnerability in the UEFI Shell implementation of UCS servers and UCS-based appliances. Memory write commands remain available in the UEFI Shell while Secure Boot is enabled, allowing an attacker to modify UEFI memory and bypass validation checks to run unauthorized software. Exploitation requires either valid credentials for a user or admin account, or unauthenticated physical access to select the UEFI Shell boot option at boot time. The issue affects firmware boot integrity rather than the running operating system.
CERT/CC details VU#718077: UEFI Shell embedded in SPI flash lets attackers bypass Secure Boot and execute pre-boot code; patches issued.
CERT/CC's VU#718077, reported by Eclypsium researcher Stas Lyakhov, describes how a UEFI Shell embedded in SPI flash can be abused by attackers who can modify UEFI boot configuration, creating multiple boot entries that bypass controls preventing the Shell from launching under Secure Boot. The Shell's dmem and mm commands allow arbitrary physical memory read/write, letting attackers overwrite Secure Boot values and execute unauthorized pre-boot code that can persist across reboots and OS reinstalls while degrading EDR effectiveness. AMI confirmed its Aptio UEFI BDS module is affected (CVE-2026-33197), and Cisco published an advisory for a variation affecting UCS Servers and UCS-based appliances (CVE-2026-20293). Firmware patches are being rolled out through OEM and IBV BIOS build pipelines.
Cisco released an advisory for S/MIME ciphertext decryption flaws in Secure Email that could let unauthenticated remote attackers recover plaintext via machine-in-the-middle.
Multiple vulnerabilities in the S/MIME decryption functionality of Cisco Secure Email stem from insufficient validation of message integrity. An unauthenticated remote attacker could intercept and modify traffic between email gateways using a machine-in-the-middle technique to obtain plaintext from encrypted messages. No workarounds are available; no CVE identifiers or exploitation status were included in the advisory text.
Cisco released IOS XR security hardening fixes for multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities, grouped by CWE class, with no known active exploitation.
Cisco's IOS XR engineering team conducted a comprehensive internal security review and released hardening updates addressing multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. The issues were found during internal testing and are not known to be actively exploited. Cisco grouped the vulnerabilities by CWE class and assigned a single CVE ID to each grouping to streamline patching and disclosure.
Cisco disclosed CVE-2026-20212, a critical unauthenticated remote code execution flaw in the Silicon One integration of Nexus 9000 switches.
Cisco has disclosed CVE-2026-20212, a critical vulnerability in the Silicon One integration used by certain Nexus 9000 switches. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to achieve remote code execution. The source excerpt does not state active exploitation or provide patch details.
Cisco patched three critical flaws, including CVE-2026-20212 unauthenticated remote root code execution in Nexus 9000 switches; no exploitation observed yet.
Cisco disclosed three critical-rated flaws found during a comprehensive internal security review. CVE-2026-20274 and CVE-2026-20279, both CVSS 9.8, affect the IOS XR carrier-grade operating system and are fixed in newly released versions. CVE-2026-20212 lets unauthenticated remote attackers execute code with root privileges on some Nexus 9000 Series Switches by reaching TCP ports 43210 and 43211 in the default Layer 3 VRF; no software fix exists yet, only infrastructure ACL mitigations. Cisco says it has not observed attacks against these flaws.
Cisco patched CVE-2026-20212 (CVSS 9.8), a flaw in the Silicon One integration for Nexus 9000 Series switches that lets unauthenticated remote attackers execute code with root privileges. TCP ports 43210 and 43211 are exposed through the default Layer 3 VRF, and exploitation can also crash the S1HAL process, forcing device reloads. Cisco TAC discovered the flaw during a support case; PSIRT is not aware of public disclosure or malicious exploitation. Workarounds include infrastructure ACLs or blocking the exposed ports, alongside a Live Protect shield pending fixed NX-OS upgrades.
Cisco released fixes for CVE-2026-20212 (CVSS 9.8), a flaw in 10 Silicon One-based Nexus 9000 switch models that binds a service to an unrestricted IP, leaving TCP ports 43210/43211 reachable in the default Layer 3 VRF and allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to execute code as root; exploitation attempts can also crash the S1HAL process. 45 NX-OS releases (10.3(1) through 10.6(3s)) are affected, with mitigations including infrastructure ACLs, the Live Protect shield lp00031, and fixed releases identified via Cisco's Software Checker. Cisco simultaneously issued an IOS XR hardening release bundling 7 umbrella CVEs, two rated 9.8 (CVE-2026-20274 for memory-safety bugs and CVE-2026-20279 for access-control bugs), affecting all releases with SMUs available for 14 releases and upgrades required for 93 of 111 listed releases. No malicious exploitation was reported as of the September 2 disclosure.
Canada's Cyber Centre relayed Cisco advisories covering a Nexus 9000 Silicon One RCE, IOS XR hardening, and denial-of-service flaws across IP phone lines.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-876 lists Cisco vulnerabilities affecting IOS XR, Nexus 9000 Series switches, and several IP phone series. Included are a Nexus 9000 Silicon One remote code execution vulnerability, a September 2026 IOS XR security hardening release, and SIP software denial-of-service flaws in Desk Phone 9800, IP Phone 7800/8800, and Video Phone 8875. The Cyber Centre urges users and administrators to review the Cisco advisories and apply updates as they become available. No active exploitation is reported in the advisory.
Cisco PSIRT published September 2, 2026 advisories including critical IOS XR hardening fixes and a Nexus 9000 remote code execution flaw.
Cisco's PSIRT released its September 2, 2026 batch of security advisories, including a Cisco IOS XR Software security hardening release bundling six CVEs (CVE-2026-20274 through CVE-2026-20280) rated critical with CVSS 9.8. A separate critical (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability, CVE-2026-20212, affects Nexus 9000 Series switches with Silicon One, and a high-severity (CVSS 7.5) denial-of-service flaw, CVE-2026-20281, affects the Desk Phone 9800 Series and related SIP phones. Administrators should review the advisories and prioritize patching the critical-rated issues.
Cisco patches unauthenticated RCE in Nexus 9000 Silicon One switches exposed via TCP ports 43210 and 43211 in the default L3 VRF.
Cisco disclosed and patched a vulnerability in the Silicon One integration for Nexus 9000 Series switches that allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute code with root privileges. The flaw stems from TCP ports 43210 and 43211 being accessible in the default Layer 3 VRF. Exploitation can also crash the S1HAL process and force an affected device to reload. Cisco has released software updates, and workarounds are available to mitigate exposure.
Cisco warns of a DoS flaw in SIP software on Desk Phone 9800 and IP Phone 7800/8800 series from improper HTTP packet memory handling.
Cisco disclosed a denial of service vulnerability affecting Desk Phone 9800 Series, IP Phone 7800 and 8800 Series, and Video Phone 8875 devices running Cisco SIP Software. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a continuous stream of crafted HTTP packets, causing sustained memory consumption until the device becomes unresponsive. A manual reboot is required to recover an affected device. No CVE identifier was listed in the advisory text.
Sygnia links the China-nexus Fire Ant campaign to UNC3886, showing hackers weaponized compromised Cisco IOS XR routers for espionage and wider intrusions.
Sygnia's Fire Ant report details Chinese hackers compromising Cisco IOS XR routers, TACACS+ authentication servers and management infrastructure to capture traffic, harvest credentials and stage attacks on high-value and critical infrastructure networks. The group, which overlaps with Mandiant's UNC3886, developed custom router malware for persistence, hid logs, deleted files and tampered with firewall rules, and remained active in 2026 after Sygnia's 2025 disclosure. The activity aligns with prior Chinese campaigns against Cisco devices, including Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon operations.
Op-ed argues the 200-company Collective Cyber Defense letter's three endorsed metrics should become standard vendor procurement questions.
More than 200 companies including Microsoft, Google, AWS, CrowdStrike, Anthropic and Okta signed an August 27 open letter calling for faster cyber defenses against AI-enabled attacks. The letter endorses three measurable metrics: coverage, containment speed, and verified remediation. The author turns those into five concrete procurement questions buyers should pose at vendor renewals, while noting the letter contains no deadlines, dollar figures or measurable targets.
Authentication bypass to root access in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
CVE-2026-20079 is an authentication bypass (CWE-288) in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software, caused by an improper system process created at boot time. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit it by sending crafted HTTP requests to the FMC web interface, which allows the execution of script files and commands on the device. A successful exploit grants the attacker root access to the underlying operating system, giving full control of the management platform (CVSS 3.1: 10.0, network-exploitable, no privileges or user interaction required, scope changed). The flaw affects Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) and Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management deployments. Cisco has confirmed the vulnerability is being exploited in active attacks, it carries a 35.9% EPSS score (98th percentile), and CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-09-09.
Hard-Coded Password Vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC), formerly Firepower Management Center, contains a use of hard-coded password vulnerability (CWE-259) that allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected system. By authenticating with the built-in hard-coded credentials for a low-privileged account, the attacker can gain access to sensitive data within the impacted systems. Any organization running an affected Cisco FMC deployment is exposed, particularly where the management interface is reachable from untrusted networks. The flaw was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-07-29, indicating active exploitation in the wild, and related reporting describes active exploitation of FMC vulnerabilities. No CVSS score or public proof-of-concept is yet available, but EPSS assigns a 9.8% probability of exploitation within 30 days (95th percentile).
· Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) KEV ransomwarelarge
Unauthenticated Remote DoS in Cisco ASA/FTD SSL VPN Service
CVE-2026-20349 is a vulnerability in the Remote Access SSL VPN service of Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Threat Defense (FTD) software, caused by insufficient error checking when processing HTTP requests. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can trigger it by sending a crafted HTTP request to the SSL VPN service on an affected device. A successful exploit causes the device to reload unexpectedly, resulting in a denial-of-service condition; no credentials or user interaction are required, and confidentiality and integrity are not affected. Any organization running ASA or FTD software with the Remote Access SSL VPN service enabled is affected, especially devices whose VPN interface is reachable from the internet. The flaw was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-08-11 and is reported as exploited in the wild, though no public proof-of-concept is known.
Unauthenticated RCE in Cisco Nexus 9000 Switches with Silicon One Integration
CVE-2026-20212 (CVSS 9.8, CWE-1327) is a critical flaw in the Silicon One integration for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches: TCP ports 43210 and 43211 are exposed in the default Layer 3 VRF, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker with network reachability to those ports to send crafted input that is executed as code with root privileges. Exploitation can also crash the S1HAL process, forcing the device to reload. Affected devices are Nexus 9000 switches that use the Silicon One integration; other Nexus deployments are not implicated in this data. No public proof-of-concept, KEV listing, or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation is known at this time, and EPSS estimates only about a 0.5% probability of exploitation within 30 days.
· Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches with Silicon One integrationlarge
Critical Improper Resource Control Flaws in Cisco IOS XR Software
CVE-2026-20274 covers a set of internally discovered improper resource control weaknesses (CWE-664) in Cisco IOS XR Software, found during a comprehensive internal security review by Cisco's IOS XR engineering team and addressed in a bundled software hardening release. The CVSS 3.1 vector (9.8, AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates the issues are triggerable over the network by an unauthenticated attacker with no user interaction, though the disclosure does not describe the exact trigger path. Successful exploitation carries high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, which is consistent with serious compromise of the affected device; separately reported coverage of the same coordinated patch batch describes an unauthenticated root RCE in Cisco Nexus 9000 (NX-OS), suggesting a related but distinct advisory. Any deployment of Cisco IOS XR Software is potentially affected — IOS XR powers Cisco's carrier-grade service provider routing platforms — and the source data does not list specific affected or fixed version ranges. No public proof-of-concept, CISA KEV listing, or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation is known; EPSS estimates roughly a 0.7% probability of exploitation within 30 days.
Critical Improper Access Control in Cisco IOS XR Software
CVE-2026-20279 covers one or more improper access control flaws (CWE-284) in Cisco IOS XR Software, discovered by Cisco's own engineering team during an internal security review and addressed in a bundled software hardening release. According to the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), the flaws are remotely exploitable over the network with no authentication and no user interaction, and the 9.8 critical score reflects high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, though the specific attack path is not detailed in the available data. A successful unauthenticated remote attacker would gain high-impact access to the affected device per the CVSS scoring, on networks running IOS XR, which is deployed primarily on Cisco's service-provider routing platforms. The fix was rolled into Cisco's coordinated September 2, 2026 advisory bundle, in which the IOS XR team consolidated patches for multiple internally discovered issues into a single update release, published alongside other Cisco fixes (including a separate critical Nexus 9000 issue). No public proof-of-concept, CISA KEV listing, or in-the-wild exploitation is currently known; EPSS estimates the 30-day exploitation probability at roughly 0.3%.
Remote Authentication Bypass in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway
Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway contain an authentication-bypass vulnerability (CWE-288, 'using an alternate path or channel') that an unauthenticated remote threat actor can exploit. The flaw is triggerable when the appliance is configured as an AAA virtual server or as a Gateway, including SSL VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, or RDP Proxy deployments, allowing the attacker to bypass authentication without valid credentials. A successful bypass could give an attacker access to VPN-protected or AAA-gated resources as an authenticated user; no CVSS score has been published yet. Organizations running affected NetScaler appliances in these configurations are exposed, and affected version ranges are not specified in the available data, so defenders should consult Citrix advisory AL26-019. The flaw was added to CISA's KEV on 2026-09-09, indicating exploitation in the wild; ransomware use is unknown, no public PoC is known, and EPSS assigns a 3.4% probability of exploitation within 30 days (88th percentile).
· Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway KEV PoC large
Unauthenticated External File-System Control in Cisco Crosswork (CVSS 10.0)
CVE-2026-20358 is an external control of the file system vulnerability (CWE-73) in Cisco Crosswork that Cisco's Crosswork engineering team discovered during an internal security review and addressed in a software hardening release announced for publication on August 19, 2026. Per the CVSS vector, it is exploitable remotely over the network without authentication or user interaction, and an attacker's ability to influence the file names or paths the software uses lets it operate on files outside its intended security scope. An attacker gains the ability to modify or overwrite files and disrupt the platform, with the score rating integrity and availability impact as high and confidentiality impact as none; the specific vulnerable interface or protocol is not described in the available data. At risk are organizations running Cisco Crosswork, and the companion advisory batch from the same date also patched flaws in Cisco Secure Workload, though no affected or fixed version numbers were provided in the available data. No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation is known, the flaw is not in the CISA KEV catalog, and EPSS estimates only a 0.5% probability of exploitation within 30 days.
Injection vulnerabilities (CWE-74) in Cisco Secure Workload
CVE-2026-20231 bundles multiple injection-class vulnerabilities (CWE-74, improper neutralization of special elements) in Cisco Secure Workload, found by Cisco's own engineers during an internal security review and addressed in a software hardening release published alongside Cisco's August 19, 2026 advisories. The flaws are triggered remotely over the network by an authenticated, low-privileged user who submits input containing special elements that an affected component fails to neutralize. The CVSS 9.9 (critical) score, with a changed scope and high ratings for confidentiality, integrity, and availability, indicates a successful attack could compromise the vulnerable component and potentially extend to other components within the deployment. Only organizations running Cisco Secure Workload (formerly Tetration) are affected, and because valid low-privilege credentials and network access to the product's interfaces are required, exposure is concentrated in enterprise data-center environments. No public proof-of-concept, KEV listing, or known in-the-wild exploitation exists; EPSS currently estimates only a 0.5% chance of exploitation within 30 days.
Improper Input Validation Bugs in Cisco Secure Workload (CVSS 9.6)
Cisco has published a software hardening release for Cisco Secure Workload, its microsegmentation and workload-protection platform, fixing multiple internally discovered improper input validation vulnerabilities tracked as CVE-2026-20318 (CWE-20). An attacker with low-privileged (authenticated) access could send crafted input over the network, and because the software fails to properly validate it, could gain high-integrity control over data or configuration and disrupt availability of the affected component without any user interaction. The changed-scope metric in the CVSS vector (S:C) indicates the impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component's own security scope, though confidentiality is not listed as affected. Customers running Cisco Secure Workload are affected; related reporting notes the same August 19, 2026 advisory batch also patched Cisco Crosswork issues, but this CVE is scoped to Secure Workload. No public proof of concept or in-the-wild exploitation is known; the flaws came from Cisco's internal security review, and EPSS estimates only about a 0.3% probability of exploitation within 30 days.
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