9.8

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

CVSS: 9.8v3.1CriticalKEVAnalyzed
Published 21-01-2026Last modified 26-02-2026
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-20045 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Code Injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 21-01-2026. EPSS estimates a 4.54% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 91.4% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
85/100
0100
Critical · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
9.8/10
010
Critical · v3.1 (NVD)
EPSS score
4.54%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVListedCISA
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

  1. 21-01-2026
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 21-01-2026
    Added to CISA KEVCisco Unified Communications Products Code Injection Vulnerability
  3. 11-02-2026
    CISA remediation dueApply mitigations per vendor instructions.
  4. 26-02-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

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.

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

4.54%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

91%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

0.00 pp

From 4.54% on 18-09-2026

18-09-202618-10-2026
EPSS score
4.54%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVListed
Added
21-01-2026
Federal due date
11-02-2026

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. sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-voice-rce-mORhqY4b nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20045

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Cisco6 products
  • cisco unified communications manager12.5(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 | 14SU3 | 12.5(1)SU8 | 12.5(1)SU8a | 15 | 15SU1 | 14SU4 | 14SU4a | 15SU1a | 12.5(1)SU9 | 15SU2 | 15.0.1.13010-1 | 15.0.1.13011-1 | 15.0.1.13012-1 | 15.0.1.13013-1 | 15.0.1.13014-1 | 15.0.1.13015-1 | 15.0.1.13016-1 | 15.0.1.13017-1 | 15SU3a
  • cisco unified communications manager im and presence service12.5(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 | 14SU3 | 12.5(1)SU8 | 15 | 15SU1 | 14SU4 | 12.5(1)SU9 | 15SU2 | 15SU3
  • cisco unity connection12.5(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 | 12.5(1)SU8 | 14SU3a | 12.5(1)SU8a | 15 | 15SU1 | 14SU4 | 12.5(1)SU9 | 15SU2 | 15SU3
  • unified_communications_manager≥ 12.5, < 14su5 | ≥ 15.0, ≤ 15su3a
  • unified_communications_manager_im_and_presence_service≥ 12.5, < 14su5 | ≥ 15.0, ≤ 15su3a

1 vendor · 6 products

References

2 links