8.8

CVE-2026-20046: Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Analyzed
Published 11-03-2026Last modified 12-03-2026

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-20046 is a high (CVSS 8.8) vulnerability in cisco cisco ios xr software. EPSS estimates a 0.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
35/100
0100
Medium · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
8.8/10
010
High · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
0.14%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

  1. 11-03-2026
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 12-03-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A vulnerability in task group assignment for a specific CLI command in Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges and gain full administrative control of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to incorrect mapping of a command to task groups within the source code. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using the CLI command to bypass the task group–based checks. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges and perform actions on an affected device without authorization checks.

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.14%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

3%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 0.14% on 22-09-2026

22-09-202622-10-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Cisco2 products
  • cisco ios xr software6.6.1 | 6.5.3 | 7.0.1 | 6.5.1 | 6.5.2 | 6.6.2 | 6.6.25 | 7.1.1 | 7.0.90 | 6.6.3 | 7.0.2 | 7.1.2 | 7.2.1 | 6.6.4 | 7.3.1 | 7.4.1 | 7.2.2 | 7.3.2 | 7.5.1 | 7.6.1 | 7.5.2 | 7.3.4 | 7.3.3 | 7.4.2 | 7.7.1 | 7.6.2 | 7.8.1 | 7.7.2 | 7.9.1 | 7.8.2 | 7.5.4 | 7.8.22 | 7.10.1 | 7.7.21 | 7.9.2 | 7.5.5 | 7.11.1 | 7.10.2 | 7.3.6 | 24.1.1 | 7.11.2 | 24.2.1 | 24.1.2 | 24.3.1 | 24.4.1 | 24.2.2 | 7.11.21 | 24.2.20 | 24.3.2 | 24.4.2 | 25.1.1 | 24.3.20 | 25.2.1 | 25.1.2 | 24.3.30 | 24.2.21 | 25.1.30
  • ios_xr< 25.2.2

1 vendor · 2 products

References

1 links