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Google Cloud Blog
Zero-Day Exploitation of Vulnerability (CVE-2026-20245) in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
In early 2026, Mandiant identified a significant cyber threat involving the exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2026-20245, in Cisco's Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. A malicious actor gained root-level access after infiltrating the infrastructure through compromised administrative accounts. The threat actor utilized anti-forensic techniques to cover their tracks, making this incident a critical warning for organizations relying on SD-WAN technology. This event underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in cloud networking solutions that require enhanced security measures to prevent similar breaches.
Act nowConfidence: HighImmediate horizonCybersecurity risk: High
Published 24 Jun 2026, 14:56 UTC3 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- CVE-2026-20245 allows privilege escalation in Cisco SD-WAN Manager.
- Threat actor gained root access using compromised administrative accounts.
- Exploitation involved anti-forensic techniques to evade detection.
- Cisco confirmed additional vulnerabilities affecting SD-WAN controllers.
- Unauthorized peering connections facilitated access to the network.
Interesting facts
- The zero-day exploit was identified early in 2026, indicating ongoing cybersecurity challenges.
- Cisco had previously disclosed other critical vulnerabilities related to the same infrastructure.