Cisco FMC Web UI Insecure Deserialization - Arbitrary Code Exec as Root
CVE-2026-20131 Published on March 4, 2026

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary Java code as root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of a user-supplied Java byte stream. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted serialized Java object to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device and elevate privileges to root. Note: If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.

NVD

Known Exploited Vulnerability

This Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software and Cisco Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewa vulnerability is part of CISA's list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software and Cisco Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management contain a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in the web-based management interface that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary Java code as root on an affected device.

The following remediation steps are recommended / required by March 22, 2026: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-20131 can be exploited with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. This vulnerability is known to be actively exploited by threat actors in an automatable fashion. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be critical as this vulnerability has a high impact to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of this component.

Attack Vector:
NETWORK
Attack Complexity:
LOW
Privileges Required:
NONE
User Interaction:
NONE
Scope:
CHANGED
Confidentiality Impact:
HIGH
Integrity Impact:
HIGH
Availability Impact:
HIGH

Weakness Type

What is a Marshaling, Unmarshaling Vulnerability?

The application deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid.

CVE-2026-20131 has been classified to as a Marshaling, Unmarshaling vulnerability or weakness.


Products Associated with CVE-2026-20131

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Affected Versions

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC):

Exploit Probability

EPSS
0.79%
Percentile
73.92%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.