CVE-2026-20045
8.2 · HIGH Actively ExploitedOverview
CVE-2026-20045 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting cisco unified_communications_manager. It was published on January 21, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH). This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical 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 exp
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from cisco. Update unified_communications_manager to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| cisco | unified_communications_manager | >= 12.5, < 14su5 | Affected |
| cisco | unified_communications_manager_im_and_presence_service | >= 12.5, < 14su5 | Affected |
| cisco | unity_connection | >= 12.5, < 14su5 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-20045?
CVE-2026-20045 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting cisco unified_communications_manager. It was published on January 21, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH). This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-20045?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-20045?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from cisco. Update unified_communications_manager to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-20045?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-20045 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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