CVE-2026-20316: Use of Hard-coded Password in Cisco Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC)
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected device using a low-privileged account to access sensitive data within the impacted systems. This vulnerability is due to the presence of static user credentials for a low-privileged account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the account to log in to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected system and access sensitive data as the low-privileged user. Note: If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced. Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of High rather than Medium as the score indicates. The reason is that this vulnerability can be used with other Cisco Secure FMC Software vulnerabilities to elevate privileges.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability involves the presence of static user credentials for a low-privileged account in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) software. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this by logging in with the hard-coded password, gaining access to sensitive data within the system. The attack surface is reduced if the FMC management interface is not publicly accessible. Cisco assigned a Security Impact Rating of High due to the potential for this vulnerability to be chained with others to elevate privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity and no user interaction required, resulting in limited confidentiality impact.
Potential Impact
An attacker can remotely log in to the affected FMC system using hard-coded credentials for a low-privileged account, potentially accessing sensitive data. While the direct impact is limited to the privileges of this account, Cisco notes the vulnerability can be combined with other FMC vulnerabilities to escalate privileges, increasing the overall risk. The vulnerability does not allow direct system compromise or denial of service by itself. Exposure risk is higher if the management interface is accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Since no official fix or patch information is provided, organizations should restrict access to the FMC management interface, especially from public networks, to reduce exposure. Monitor Cisco advisories for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. Consider additional compensating controls such as network segmentation and access restrictions until a fix is available.
Indicators of Compromise
- cve: CVE-2026-20316
- hash: 207e0d47c4e5493ef7313eb1faeb1c6195923c89f263e548609a6838dd91ec0c
- hash: 259d8eddb6caf509d7bffa2b4c0dd7d89668800c870f529729ac2efdc1853fb6
- hash: 6700e30a3224248085d30f2eb727cea28dec288355fca6753449a26d1c1d1eee
- hash: 86a5fb2f14d175d1c13a7b49b55b968b2a5e96afc944d85a31b3db906af00beb
- hash: 87db7138a80117ddf2989827c1dde09ee73c7a252d511c74ed66af2fe34e2987
- hash: 8e988b915b75dd749e3f4e1ca7ee21746885b4fe34e8a246e6f10f5d892a675f
- hash: 8edd653910f3217c96a603e8ce9e5e409d3b8674476f22e0a3afe870bf3870b1
- hash: 9402c0198ae5c8bed14cdeaabe7e8b25625debbc62a900cfcdb82d34a35ab528
- hash: 9c6b269e5087a40b4552f72e9ff13d9b39e433af5075ad68f57e9b5240a590d8
- hash: a43bf7f81507c8f9d0942fed331e7590a43044a6d219ec1005974bf1a81974a1
- hash: b4e3ca8f44477b9ade1272f92516202f83a80219c8bd6176527a6d624214e893
- hash: e46aee4ca43ba66666f6572c62365cf57642f2cf1f6eca00fcf8eb33a291d66d
- hash: f031c00f592aa5e98893b4532f743362fed7fb0a485e8a3c0ad4de677f1d7415
CVE-2026-20316: Use of Hard-coded Password in Cisco Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC)
Description
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected device using a low-privileged account to access sensitive data within the impacted systems. This vulnerability is due to the presence of static user credentials for a low-privileged account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the account to log in to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected system and access sensitive data as the low-privileged user. Note: If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced. Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of High rather than Medium as the score indicates. The reason is that this vulnerability can be used with other Cisco Secure FMC Software vulnerabilities to elevate privileges.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.3medium
Affected software
Cisco
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC)
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability involves the presence of static user credentials for a low-privileged account in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) software. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this by logging in with the hard-coded password, gaining access to sensitive data within the system. The attack surface is reduced if the FMC management interface is not publicly accessible. Cisco assigned a Security Impact Rating of High due to the potential for this vulnerability to be chained with others to elevate privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity and no user interaction required, resulting in limited confidentiality impact.
Potential Impact
An attacker can remotely log in to the affected FMC system using hard-coded credentials for a low-privileged account, potentially accessing sensitive data. While the direct impact is limited to the privileges of this account, Cisco notes the vulnerability can be combined with other FMC vulnerabilities to escalate privileges, increasing the overall risk. The vulnerability does not allow direct system compromise or denial of service by itself. Exposure risk is higher if the management interface is accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Since no official fix or patch information is provided, organizations should restrict access to the FMC management interface, especially from public networks, to reduce exposure. Monitor Cisco advisories for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. Consider additional compensating controls such as network segmentation and access restrictions until a fix is available.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- cisco
- Date Reserved
- 2025-10-08T11:59:15.410Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Indicators of Compromise
Cve
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
cveCVE-2026-20316 | — |
Hash
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
hash207e0d47c4e5493ef7313eb1faeb1c6195923c89f263e548609a6838dd91ec0c | — | |
hash259d8eddb6caf509d7bffa2b4c0dd7d89668800c870f529729ac2efdc1853fb6 | — | |
hash6700e30a3224248085d30f2eb727cea28dec288355fca6753449a26d1c1d1eee | — | |
hash86a5fb2f14d175d1c13a7b49b55b968b2a5e96afc944d85a31b3db906af00beb | — | |
hash87db7138a80117ddf2989827c1dde09ee73c7a252d511c74ed66af2fe34e2987 | — | |
hash8e988b915b75dd749e3f4e1ca7ee21746885b4fe34e8a246e6f10f5d892a675f | — | |
hash8edd653910f3217c96a603e8ce9e5e409d3b8674476f22e0a3afe870bf3870b1 | — | |
hash9402c0198ae5c8bed14cdeaabe7e8b25625debbc62a900cfcdb82d34a35ab528 | — | |
hash9c6b269e5087a40b4552f72e9ff13d9b39e433af5075ad68f57e9b5240a590d8 | — | |
hasha43bf7f81507c8f9d0942fed331e7590a43044a6d219ec1005974bf1a81974a1 | — | |
hashb4e3ca8f44477b9ade1272f92516202f83a80219c8bd6176527a6d624214e893 | — | |
hashe46aee4ca43ba66666f6572c62365cf57642f2cf1f6eca00fcf8eb33a291d66d | — | |
hashf031c00f592aa5e98893b4532f743362fed7fb0a485e8a3c0ad4de677f1d7415 | — |
Threat ID: 6a6a335f9c2644c7f8cc857f
Added to database: 07/29/2026, 17:07:43 UTC
Last enriched: 08/13/2026, 20:49:05 UTC
Last updated: 09/12/2026, 10:01:30 UTC
Views: 152
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