Cisco FMC bugs exploited by nation-state and ransomware actors (CVE-2026-20079, CVE-2026-20316)
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.
- CVE-2026-20079 authentication bypass allows remote root command execution
- CVE-2026-20316 static credentials enable unauthenticated FMC access
- Sandworm linked to reverse-shell implant; Qilin operator linked to ransomware
- Hotfixes available now; hardening release due week of September 16
- ATT&CK
- T1190 Exploit Public-Facing ApplicationT1505.003 Web ShellT1078 Valid AccountsT1003 OS Credential Dumping
- Vendors
- CiscoHorizon3.aiCISA
- Organizations
- Cisco Talos
- Countries
- Russia
Vulnerabilities mentioned
All| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Signals | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-20079 | Authentication bypass to root access in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center | 10.0 | 88% | KEVPoC ×2 | KEV |
| CVE-2026-20316 | Hard-Coded Password Vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center | 5.3 | 35% | KEVRansomware | KEV |
From the original article
2 min read at helpnetsecurity.com
State-sponsored and financially-motivated attackers are actively exploiting CVE-2026-20079, a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC), which is used for centrally managing multiple Cisco Secure Firewall devices across a network.
By Zeljka Zorz · helpnetsecurity.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.