Description
A vulnerability in the External Database Access feature of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of a user-supplied Java byte stream from a host that is configured in the external database access list. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted, serialized Java byte stream to a specific TCP port of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges to root.
Notes:

This vulnerability can be exploited only by an attacker who has control of a host in the external database access list.
If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.
Published: 2026-09-16
Score: 9.8 Critical
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Cisco
Cisco secure Firewall Management Center
Vendors & Products Cisco
Cisco secure Firewall Management Center

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the External Database Access feature of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as&nbsp;root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of a user-supplied Java byte stream from a host that is configured in the external database access list. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted, serialized Java byte stream to a specific TCP port of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges to root. Notes: This vulnerability can be exploited only by an attacker who has control of a host in the external database access list. If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.
Title Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-502
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Subscriptions

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: cisco

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-18T03:55:57.449Z

Reserved: 2025-10-08T11:59:15.400Z

Link: CVE-2026-20242

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-17T14:55:30.453Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-09-16T20:17:22.697

Modified: 2026-09-18T04:17:34.083

Link: CVE-2026-20242

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-19T22:36:25Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-502

    Deserialization of Untrusted Data