CVE-2026-76460 Cisco Identity Services Engine: privilege escalation
In plain words: Something running with limited rights can promote itself to full control. Turns a small foothold (like a malicious app) into administrator or system-level access.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Sep 19, 2026
What to do
- Install Cisco's security update for Identity Services Engine. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Cisco Identity Services Engine Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs Vulnerability
- Product
- Cisco Identity Services Engine
- CISA description
- Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) contain an incorrect use of privileged APIs vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to the affected device by bypassing the web-based management interface.
- Type of flaw
- Privilege escalation (CWE-648)
- Confirmed exploited
- Sep 16, 2026
- US federal patch deadline
- Sep 19, 2026
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Answering about CVE-2026-76460 ·
Questions about CVE-2026-76460
Is CVE-2026-76460 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2026-76460 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Sep 16, 2026, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2026-76460?
Install Cisco's security update for Identity Services Engine. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-76460?
Only if you use Cisco Identity Services Engine. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.