CVE-2026-20083: Improper Handling of Extra Parameters in Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software
CVE-2026-20083 is a medium severity vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software's Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) server feature. It allows an authenticated local attacker with low privileges to cause a denial of service (DoS) by sending a malformed SCP request via SSH. Successful exploitation causes the affected device to reload unexpectedly, disrupting service. This vulnerability affects numerous versions of Cisco IOS XE Software. No known exploits are reported in the wild. Patch status is not confirmed from the provided data; users should consult Cisco advisories for remediation updates.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability arises from improper handling of extra parameters in the SCP server feature of Cisco IOS XE Software. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can issue a crafted SCP command over SSH that triggers a device reload, resulting in a denial of service condition. The issue affects a wide range of IOS XE versions. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and impact limited to availability (device reload).
Potential Impact
An authenticated local attacker with low privileges can cause the affected Cisco IOS XE device to reload unexpectedly, leading to a denial of service. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity reported. This disrupts network availability but does not allow data compromise or unauthorized access beyond the authenticated user context.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not confirmed from the provided information. Users should monitor Cisco's official security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. Until a patch is applied, restrict SCP server access to trusted administrators and consider disabling SCP if not required to reduce exposure. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate if the issue is already mitigated or if no action is required.
CVE-2026-20083: Improper Handling of Extra Parameters in Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software
Description
CVE-2026-20083 is a medium severity vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software's Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) server feature. It allows an authenticated local attacker with low privileges to cause a denial of service (DoS) by sending a malformed SCP request via SSH. Successful exploitation causes the affected device to reload unexpectedly, disrupting service. This vulnerability affects numerous versions of Cisco IOS XE Software. No known exploits are reported in the wild. Patch status is not confirmed from the provided data; users should consult Cisco advisories for remediation updates.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability arises from improper handling of extra parameters in the SCP server feature of Cisco IOS XE Software. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can issue a crafted SCP command over SSH that triggers a device reload, resulting in a denial of service condition. The issue affects a wide range of IOS XE versions. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and impact limited to availability (device reload).
Potential Impact
An authenticated local attacker with low privileges can cause the affected Cisco IOS XE device to reload unexpectedly, leading to a denial of service. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity reported. This disrupts network availability but does not allow data compromise or unauthorized access beyond the authenticated user context.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not confirmed from the provided information. Users should monitor Cisco's official security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. Until a patch is applied, restrict SCP server access to trusted administrators and consider disabling SCP if not required to reduce exposure. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate if the issue is already mitigated or if no action is required.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- cisco
- Date Reserved
- 2025-10-08T11:59:15.366Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 69c40a64f4197a8e3b6998f3
Added to database: 3/25/2026, 4:16:36 PM
Last enriched: 4/3/2026, 1:37:43 PM
Last updated: 5/7/2026, 6:56:50 AM
Views: 53
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