Cisco IOS XR Software: Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
CVE-2026-20280 is a high-severity improper check or handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability in Cisco IOS XR Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 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 IOS XR Software versions: 6.5.29; 7.0.1; 6.5.26, 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 0.5% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Cisco IOS XR Software you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- 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 IOS XR Software | 6.5.29; 7.0.1; 6.5.26; 6.5.25; 6.5.28; 6.5.90; 7.1.1; 7.0.90; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | iOS Xr | 6.5.25; 6.5.26; 6.5.28; 6.5.29; 6.5.31; 6.5.32; 6.5.33; 6.5.35; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
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
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- 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:U/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 IOS XR Software engineering team has conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening releases that address multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-20280 are related to improper checking or handling of exceptional condition issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) CWE-703.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
The product does not properly anticipate or handle exceptional conditions that rarely occur during normal operation of the product.
More Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities (CWE-703)
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 references
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco IOS XR Software
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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