What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-20017?

CVE-2026-20017 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.0 (Medium). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.0%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2026-20017?

Within 30 days: Identify affected systems and apply vendor patches as part of regular patch cycle. Monitor vendor channels for patch availability.

Firepower Threat Defense CVE-2026-20017

MEDIUM

Execution with Unnecessary Privileges (CWE-250)

2026-03-04 psirt@cisco.com

Privilege Escalation Cisco Firepower Threat Defense

6.0

CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: cisco

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-250 OWASP Top 10:2025 A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components ASVS 5.0 V8 - Authorization Unnecessary privilege execution
Impact	CVSS 6.0 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: High. User interaction: None. Exploitation requires authentication. Exploitable via local access.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker (requires authentication) could exploit this vulnerability to execute commands on the underlying operating system as root.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).

No patch listed yet 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Insufficient input validation in Cisco Secure FTD Software's CLI allows authenticated local administrators to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges by submitting specially crafted arguments to specific commands. An attacker with valid administrative credentials can exploit this to gain complete control over the underlying operating system. No patch is currently available.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 22:05 CVSS 6.0

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Secure FTD Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as root. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials on an affected device. [CVSS 6.0 MEDIUM]

RemediationAI

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Affects your stack

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges). Affects CLI of Cisco Secure FTD Software. A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Secure FTD Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as root. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials on an affected device.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (cisco) PRIMARY 6.0 MEDIUM

AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Primary rating from Vendor (cisco) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: cisco

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

High

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

None

DescriptionCVE.org

This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of user-supplied command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted input for a specific CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying operating system as root.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-20017 presents moderate security risk rated CVSS 6.0. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.

Business Impact: Low

Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: restrict network access and enable monitoring.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.0%

Top 100% exploitable

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity MEDIUM

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 0.0%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Defer

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

Low

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +30

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.