A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Changed

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendors Products
Cisco
  • Ios Xr Software

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References
Link Providers
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-privesc-bF8D5U4W cve-icon cve-icon
History

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Cisco
Cisco ios Xr Software
Vendors & Products Cisco
Cisco ios Xr Software

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.
Title Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-78
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: cisco

Published: 2026-03-11T16:31:14.292Z

Updated: 2026-03-12T03:55:35.692Z

Reserved: 2025-10-08T11:59:15.354Z

Link: CVE-2026-20040

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-11T17:14:26.684Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-03-11T17:16:54.747

Modified: 2026-03-12T21:08:22.643

Link: CVE-2026-20040

cve-icon Redhat

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