Highly exploitable, CVE-2026-20049 poses a critical security risk that could lead to severe breaches.
Status: Awaiting Analysis
Last updated: 🕢 05 Mar 2026, 19:39 UTC
Originally published on: 🕕 04 Mar 2026, 18:16 UTC
Time between publication and last update: 1 days
CVSS Release: version 3
psirt@cisco.com
Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVE-2026-20049: A vulnerability in the processing of Galois/Counter Mode (GCM)-encrypted Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) IPsec traffic of Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to the allocation of an insufficiently sized block of memory. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted GCM-encrypted IPsec traffic to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause an unexpected reload of the device, resulting in a DoS condition. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid credentials to establish a VPN connection with the affected device.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-20049 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-20049 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-20049, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-20049, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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