Cisco Identity Services Engine Software: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CVE-2026-20234 is a critical-severity insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Identity Services Engine Software versions: 3.1.0; 3.1.0 p1; 3.1.0 p3, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Identity Services Engine to 3.3.0 or a later version.
- Update Identity Services Engine Passive Identity Connector to 3.3.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Identity Services Engine Software | 3.1.0; 3.1.0 p1; 3.1.0 p3; 3.1.0 p2; 3.2.0; 3.1.0 p4; 3.1.0 p5; 3.2.0 p1; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector | 3.2.0; 3.1.0; 3.3.0; 3.4.0; 3.5.0 | Not stated |
| Cisco | Identity Services Engine | 3.1.0 up to, but not including, 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.4.0; 3.5.0 | 3.3.0 |
| Cisco | Identity Services Engine Passive Identity Connector | 3.1.0 up to, but not including, 3.3.0; 3.3.0; 3.4.0 | 3.3.0 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (cisco.com).
Official description
As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) engineering teams have conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening release that addresses multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-20234 are related to insufficiently protected credentials issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Pillar CWE-522.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an appropriate security mechanism to protect the credentials.
- Make appropriate use of cryptography to protect the credentials.
- Use industry standards to protect the credentials (e.g. LDAP, keystore, etc.).
More Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-522)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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