Security assessments indicate that CVE-2026-20152 presents a notable risk, potentially requiring prompt mitigation.
Status: Received on 15 Apr 2026, 17:17 UTC
Published on: 15 Apr 2026, 17:17 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
psirt@cisco.com
Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
CVE-2026-20152: A vulnerability in the authentication service feature of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Web Appliance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication policy requirements. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied authentication input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending HTTP requests that contain specific authentication requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass policy enforcement on the device. There is no direct impact to the Cisco Secure Web Appliance. However, as a result of exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker could send HTTP requests that should be restricted through the device.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-20152 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).
With low attack complexity and no required privileges, CVE-2026-20152 is an easy target for cybercriminals. Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
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-2026-20152, 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-2026-20152, 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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