CVE-2026-20316: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Use of Hard-coded Password Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected device using a low-privileged account to access sensitive data within the impacted systems. This vulnerability is due to the presence of static user credentials for a low-privileged account. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the account to log in to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected system and access sensitive data as the low-privileged user. Note: If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced. Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of High rather than Medium as the score indicates. The reason is that this vulnerability can be used with other Cisco Secure FMC Software vulnerabilities to elevate privileges.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by cisco, published 2026-07-29).
Weakness: Use of Hard-coded Password
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing no privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality low, integrity none, availability none. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: yes. Technical impact: partial.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2026-07-29
- US federal deadline
- 2026-08-01
- Ransomware use
- Yes
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2026-10775, EUVD-2026-50404, GHSA-x85f-hvgg-4944, ZDI-26-533
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:FOXTROTFLAMINGO
Exploit Observer has no public exploit code that names this CVE or one of its aliases.
Research and write-ups (4)
- Research or write-up: https://horizon3.ai/attack-research/vulnerabilities/cve-2026-20316
- Research or write-up: https://socprime.com/blog/cve-2026-20316-cisco-fmc-zero-day-exploited
- Research or write-up: https://thecyberexpress.com/cve-2026-20316-cisco-secure-fmc
- Research or write-up: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-533
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (4)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2026-50404
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-x85f-hvgg-4944
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20316
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20316
News (2)
- News: https://socradar.io/blog/cve-2026-20316-cisco-secure-fmc-static
- News: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/09/10/cisco-fmc-exploited-cve-2026-20079-cve-2026-20316
15 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.351
likely to be attacked soon - VEDAS
- 0.976
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2026-07-29
- Detection rule
- None yet
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) | version 7.0.0 version 7.0.0.1 version 7.0.1 version 7.0.1.1 version 7.0.2 version 7.2.0 version 7.0.2.1 version 7.0.3 and 60 more ranges | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: cisco secure_firewall_management_center, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_secure_fmc_software.
How to fix it
CISA required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset’s internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Vendor guidance:
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-fmc-static-cred-BET3Cjh
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20316
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
References
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20316 (government-resource)
Other references
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.