CVE-2026-20045

Cisco Unified Communications Products Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Jan 21, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.2 High EPSS 4.5% KEV · Listed

Description

A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device. 

This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root. 
Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Cisco

Cisco Unified Communications Manager

unknown

Version	Status	Constraints
`12.5(1)SU2`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU4`	affected	—
`14`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU5`	affected	—
`14SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU6`	affected	—
`14SU2`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU7`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU7a`	affected	—
`14SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU8`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU8a`	affected	—
`15`	affected	—
`15SU1`	affected	—
`14SU4`	affected	—
`14SU4a`	affected	—
`15SU1a`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU9`	affected	—
`15SU2`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13010-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13011-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13012-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13013-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13014-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13015-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13016-1`	affected	—
`15.0.1.13017-1`	affected	—
`15SU3a`	affected	—

Cisco

Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM and Presence Service

unknown

Version	Status	Constraints
`12.5(1)`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU2`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU4`	affected	—
`14`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU5`	affected	—
`14SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU6`	affected	—
`14SU2`	affected	—
`14SU2a`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU7`	affected	—
`14SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU8`	affected	—
`15`	affected	—
`15SU1`	affected	—
`14SU4`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU9`	affected	—
`15SU2`	affected	—
`15SU3`	affected	—

Cisco

Cisco Unity Connection

unknown

Version	Status	Constraints
`12.5(1)`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU2`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU4`	affected	—
`14`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU5`	affected	—
`14SU1`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU6`	affected	—
`14SU2`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU7`	affected	—
`14SU3`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU8`	affected	—
`14SU3a`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU8a`	affected	—
`15`	affected	—
`15SU1`	affected	—
`14SU4`	affected	—
`12.5(1)SU9`	affected	—
`15SU2`	affected	—
`15SU3`	affected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

OR	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::-:::*
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::session_management:::*
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::-:::*
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::session_management:::*
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager_im_and_presence_service::::::::
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager_im_and_presence_service::::::::
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unity_connection::::::::
	cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unity_connection::::::::

No data.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cisco	Unified Communications Manager	—
Cisco	Unified Communications Manager Im And Presence Service	—
Cisco	Unity Connection	—
Cisco	Webex	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact Low

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is in the KEV database since Jan. 21, 2026.

Exploit prediction score: 4.5% (4.541% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation active

Automatable yes

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-voice-rce-mORhqY4b
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20045

History

Feb 13, 2026 9:00 PM Description updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description	A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root. Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.	A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root.  Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.

Jan 23, 2026 4:45 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Cisco webex
Vendors & Products		Cisco webex

Jan 22, 2026 2:30 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Cisco Cisco unified Communications Manager Cisco unified Communications Manager Im And Presence Service Cisco unity Connection
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::-:::* cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager:::::session_management:::* cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unified_communications_manager_im_and_presence_service:::::::: cpe:2.3:a:cisco:unity_connection::::::::
Vendors & Products		Cisco Cisco unified Communications Manager Cisco unified Communications Manager Im And Presence Service Cisco unity Connection

Jan 21, 2026 9:15 PM Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
References		https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-20045
Metrics	ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`	kev `{'dateAdded': '2026-01-21T00:00:00+00:00', 'dueDate': '2026-02-11T00:00:00+00:00'}` ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'active', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jan 21, 2026 6:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics	ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`	ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jan 21, 2026 5:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jan 21, 2026 4:45 PM Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Webex Calling Dedicated Instance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted HTTP requests to the web-based management interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain user-level access to the underlying operating system and then elevate privileges to root. Note: Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of Critical rather than High as the score indicates. The reason is that exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an attacker elevating privileges to root.
Title		Cisco Unified Communications Products Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Weaknesses		CWE-94
References		https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-voice-rce-mORhqY4b
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N'}`