Is CVE-2026-20042 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2026-20042 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2026-20042 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2026-20042 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-20042?

CVE-2026-20042 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (MEDIUM).

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MEDIUM

CVE-2026-20042

CWE-295Published: April 1, 2026· Updated: Apr 3, 2026

6.5

CVSS v3.1

EPSS:0.02%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:6.0th

Official Description

A vulnerability in the configuration backup feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard could allow an attacker who has the encryption password and access to Full or Config-only backup files to access sensitive information.

This vulnerability exists because authentication details are included in the encrypted backup files. An attacker with a valid backup file and encryption password from an affected device could decrypt the backup file. The attacker could then use the authentication details in the backup file to access internal-only APIs on the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-20042 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires high privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), with a CVSS base score of 6.5.