Recent updates from Cisco have addressed several medium-severity vulnerabilities affecting their Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Snort 3 Detection Engine. A notable vulnerability, CVE-2026-20029, with a CVSS score of 4.9, impacts the licensing feature of Cisco ISE and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC). This flaw allows an authenticated remote attacker with administrative privileges to access sensitive information by exploiting improper XML parsing in the web-based management interface. The vulnerability affects versions of Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC earlier than 3.5, with specific patches available for versions 3.2 to 3.4.
In addition to the ISE vulnerability, Cisco has also released fixes for two other medium-severity vulnerabilities in the Snort 3 Detection Engine, identified as CVE-2026-20026 and CVE-2026-20027. These vulnerabilities, with CVSS scores of 5.8 and 5.3 respectively, involve the processing of Distributed Computing Environment Remote Procedure Call (DCE/RPC) requests. They could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause a denial-of-service condition or leak sensitive information.
The presence of public proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code for these vulnerabilities underscores the importance of timely updates. While there are no known instances of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild, the availability of PoC code increases the risk of potential attacks. Cisco has emphasized the need for users to migrate to fixed releases to mitigate these risks effectively.
CVE-2026-20029 is a vulnerability in Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC that arises from improper XML parsing in the web-based management interface. An attacker with administrative credentials can exploit this flaw to read arbitrary files from the underlying operating system, potentially accessing sensitive information. This vulnerability affects versions earlier than 3.5, with specific patches available for versions 3.2 to 3.4.
CVE-2026-20026 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in the Snort 3 Detection Engine related to DCE/RPC request processing. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this flaw to cause the Snort 3 engine to restart, impacting system availability. This vulnerability affects Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Software, Cisco IOS XE Software, and Cisco Meraki software when Snort 3 is configured.
CVE-2026-20027 is an information disclosure vulnerability in the Snort 3 Detection Engine, also related to DCE/RPC request processing. It allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to leak sensitive information from affected systems. Like CVE-2026-20026, it impacts Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Software, Cisco IOS XE Software, and Cisco Meraki software with Snort 3 configured.
The identified vulnerabilities could lead to significant operational disruptions for clients using affected Cisco products. Exploitation of these flaws may result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, denial-of-service conditions, or information leaks, potentially causing financial losses and reputational damage. Organizations relying on Cisco's network security solutions should prioritize patching to prevent these outcomes.
From a compliance perspective, failure to address these vulnerabilities could lead to regulatory challenges, especially for industries with stringent data protection requirements. Organizations may face audits or penalties if they do not demonstrate adequate security measures to protect sensitive information.
To mitigate the identified risks, clients should consider the following actions:
By taking these steps, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to these vulnerabilities and enhance their overall security posture.
1898 & Co. is actively addressing the current threat landscape by offering tailored security solutions designed to mitigate emerging threats like those identified in Cisco products. Our team provides comprehensive vulnerability assessments and patch management services to ensure clients' systems are up-to-date and secure against known exploits.
We are enhancing our threat intelligence capabilities through collaborative efforts with industry allies and government agencies, ensuring we stay ahead of potential threats. Our ongoing research into emerging vulnerabilities allows us to provide clients with timely insights and recommendations tailored to their specific needs.
Our case studies demonstrate successful mitigations of similar vulnerabilities, showcasing our ability to effectively protect client environments from exploitation. By leveraging our expertise, clients can confidently navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape.