A vulnerability in the External Database Access feature of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of a user-supplied Java byte stream from a host that is configured in the external database access list. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted, serialized Java byte stream to a specific TCP port of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges to root.
Notes:

This vulnerability can be exploited only by an attacker who has control of a host in the external database access list.
If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.

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Solution

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Workaround

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History

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the External Database Access feature of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insecure deserialization of a user-supplied Java byte stream from a host that is configured in the external database access list. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted, serialized Java byte stream to a specific TCP port of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device and elevate privileges to root. Notes: This vulnerability can be exploited only by an attacker who has control of a host in the external database access list. If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.
Title Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-502
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: cisco

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-16T20:08:27.904Z

Reserved: 2025-10-08T11:59:15.400Z

Link: CVE-2026-20242

cve-icon Vulnrichment

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cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-09-16T20:17:22.697

Modified: 2026-09-16T20:35:23.620

Link: CVE-2026-20242

cve-icon Redhat

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cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

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Weaknesses