CVE-2026-20052
CWE-788Published: March 4, 2026· Updated: Mar 5, 2026
Official Description
A vulnerability in the memory management handling for the Snort 3 Detection Engine of Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the Snort 3 Detection Engine to restart.
This vulnerability is due to a logic error in memory management when a device is performing Snort 3 SSL packet inspection. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted SSL packets through an established connection to be parsed by the Snort 3 Detection Engine. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition when the Snort 3 Detection Engine unexpectedly restarts.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-20052 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (1)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-788)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-20052 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts