Cisco released fixes for twelve flaws in Catalyst SD-WAN and IOS XE software, including three rated 9.9 and a command-injection issue rated 9.8. The three critical SD-WAN flaws, CVE-2026-20303, CVE-2026-20304, and CVE-2026-20310, stem from improper input validation, access control, and file-path handling in software that centrally controls a network. Cisco found them through internal testing that included frontier AI models and is not aware of exploitation, but there are no workarounds, so patching is the only remediation. Cisco also patched a management-controller flaw with public exploit code that lets a low-privileged user reach root.
Arista patched a critical vulnerability in on-premises VeloCloud Orchestrator, the console that configures and manages VeloCloud SD-WAN deployments, that is already being exploited. Tracked as CVE-2026-16812 and scored 10.0, it is an unauthenticated operating-system command injection that lets a remote attacker reach privileged functionality meant only for internal use. Arista warns successful exploitation can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the orchestrator and everything it manages. There is no configuration that prevents exposure, since the web interface is reachable by default. CISA added it to its exploited-vulnerabilities catalog. Hosted and Dedicated deployments were fixed before the advisory and are not affected.
Cisco has patched a flaw in Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (formerly vManage), the console used to manage thousands of SD-WAN devices, that attackers were already exploiting as a zero-day to gain root. The bug (CVE-2026-20262) stems from weak validation of file uploads in the web interface, letting an authenticated low-privilege remote attacker create or overwrite any file on the system by sending crafted HTTP requests, and from there run commands as root. It affects every deployment type, including on-premises, Cisco-managed cloud, and the FedRAMP government edition, regardless of configuration. It is the latest in a run of exploited Cisco SD-WAN Manager zero-days this year.
Cisco has warned of an actively exploited, unpatched zero-day in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (CVE-2026-20245) that enables root privilege escalation across all deployment types, including on-prem, Cloud, Managed, and FedRAMP Government. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input: an attacker who uploads a crafted file can perform command injection and run arbitrary commands as root. Exploitation requires netadmin privileges - obtained via valid credentials or by chaining CVE-2026-20182 or CVE-2026-20127. Mandiant reported the activity to Cisco's PSIRT in June. Cisco has observed limited cases where exploitation pushed configuration changes to edge devices, and published IoCs pointing to suspicious tenant-list uploads in scripts.log.
CISA added a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager information disclosure flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Monday, ordering federal agencies to patch by Friday, April 24 - an unusually aggressive 4-day deadline that reflects confirmed active exploitation. CVE-2026-20133 is an unauthenticated remote flaw in the SD-WAN Manager (formerly vManage) API, caused by insufficient file system access restrictions. An attacker can access the API and read sensitive information from the underlying operating system - including credentials that enable follow-on attacks. Cisco patched it in late February alongside two other SD-WAN Manager flaws (CVE-2026-20128 and CVE-2026-20122, both also added to KEV this week and confirmed exploited in the wild). Catalyst SD-WAN Manager is used to centrally manage up to 6,000 SD-WAN devices from one dashboard, making it a high-value target. Oddly, Cisco's PSIRT still says they have no evidence of public exploitation - contradicting CISA. CISA is treating its own intelligence as authoritative and has issued Emergency Directive 26-03 plus a Hunt & Hardening Guide for Cisco SD-WAN. Over the past several years CISA has tagged 91 Cisco vulnerabilities as exploited in the wild, six used by ransomware operations.
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