Summary

• A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute script files on an affected device to obtain root access to the underlying operating system. 

  This vulnerability is due to an improper system process that is created at boot time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute a variety of scripts and commands that allow root access to the device. 

  Note: If the FMC management interface does not have public internet access, the attack surface that is associated with this vulnerability is reduced.

  Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

  This advisory is available at the following link:
  https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-onprem-fmc-authbypass-5JPp45V2

  This advisory is part of the March 2026 release of the Cisco Secure Firewall ASA, Secure FMC, and Secure FTD Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: March 2026 Semiannual Cisco Secure Firewall ASA, Secure FMC, and Secure FTD Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication.

Affected Products

• Vulnerable Products

  This vulnerability affects Cisco Secure FMC Software and Cisco Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management, regardless of device configuration.

  Note: Cisco SCC Firewall Management is a SaaS-delivered offering and is upgraded by Cisco as part of maintenance. The fix for this vulnerability has been deployed to Cisco SCC Firewall Management environments. No user action is required.

  For information about which Cisco software releases are vulnerable, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory.

  Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

  Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

  Cisco has confirmed that this vulnerability does not affect the following Cisco products:

  • Firewall Device Manager (FDM)
  • Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
  • Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software
  • Security Cloud Control (SCC), formerly Defense Orchestrator

Indicators of Compromise

• To determine if this vulnerability may have been exploited, use the zgrep "package_info.*license" messages* CLI command in expert mode. If the log message in the output includes /var/tmp/license.tmp, as shown in the following example, this vulnerability may have been exploited on the Cisco Secure FMC device: 

  > expert
  admin@firepower:~$ sudo su
  Password:
  Last login: Thu Jul 23 19:40:57 UTC 2026 on pts/2
  root@firepower:/home/admin#
  root@firepower:/home/admin# zgrep "package_info.*license" /var/log/messages*
  Jul 23 16:16:33 firepower sudo:      www : PWD=/ ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/local/sf/bin/package_info.pl /var/tmp/license.tmp --lsm 

  If exploitation is suspected, immediately contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) for assistance with recovery options. The hot fix files listed in this advisory are for preventing future exploitation only and may not address existing compromise. Follow all Cisco TAC guidance if indicators of compromise are present.

Workarounds

• There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Fixed Software

• Cisco considers any workarounds and mitigations (if applicable) to be temporary solutions until an upgrade to a fixed software release is available. To fully remediate these vulnerabilities and avoid future exposure as described in this advisory, Cisco strongly recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software indicated in this advisory. 

  Cisco Secure FMC Hot Fixes

  Cisco has released the following hot fixes to address this vulnerability and to protect customers from future exploitation of this vulnerability. Customers can download the hot fixes from the Software Center on Cisco.com.

  Cisco Secure FMC Software Release	Hot Fix Name
  7.0	Cisco_Firepower_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_GB-7.0.9.1-3.sh.REL.tar
  7.2	Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_HL-7.2.11.1-4.sh.REL.tar
  7.4	Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_HG-7.4.7.1-3.sh.REL.tar
  7.6	Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_CY-7.6.5.1-2.sh.REL.tar
  7.7	Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_AM-7.7.12.1-2.sh.REL.tar
  10.0	Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Hotfix_P-10.0.1.1-2.sh.REL.tar

  For details about downloading and installing these hot fixes, see Cisco Firepower Hot Fix Release Notes. 

  The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) validates only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory.

  Cisco Secure Firewall ASA, Secure FMC, and Secure FTD Software

  To help customers determine their exposure to vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Firewall ASA, Secure FMC, and Secure FTD Software, Cisco provides the Cisco Software Checker. This tool identifies any Cisco security advisories that impact a specific software release and the earliest release that fixes the vulnerabilities that are described in each advisory (“First Fixed”). If applicable, the tool also returns the earliest release that fixes all the vulnerabilities that are described in all the advisories that the Software Checker identifies (“Combined First Fixed”).

  To use the tool, go to the Cisco Software Checker page and follow the instructions. Alternatively, use the following form to search for vulnerabilities that affect a specific software release. To use the form, follow these steps:

  1. Choose which advisories the tool will search—all advisories, only advisories with a Critical or High Security Impact Rating (SIR), or only this advisory.
  2. Choose the appropriate software.
  3. Choose the appropriate platform.
  4. Enter a release number—for example, 9.20.3.4 for Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software or 7.4.2 for Cisco Secure FTD Software.
  5. Click Check.

  Only this advisory All Critical and High advisories All advisories Cisco ASA Software Cisco FMC Software Cisco FTD Software Any Platform 3000 Series Industrial Security Appliances (ISA) ASA 5500-X Series Firewalls ASA Service Module Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) Firepower 1000 Series Firepower 2100 Series Firepower 4100 Series Firepower 9000 Series Secure Firewall 1200 Series Secure Firewall 3100 Series Secure Firewall 4200 Series

   

   

  Additional Resources

  For help determining the best Cisco Secure Firewall ASA, Secure FMC, or Secure FTD Software release, see the following Recommended Releases documents. If a security advisory recommends a later release, Cisco recommends following the advisory guidance.

  Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Compatibility
  Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Upgrade Guide
  Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Compatibility Guide

Exploitation and Public Announcements

• The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Source

• This vulnerability was found by Brandon Sakai of Cisco during internal security testing.

URL

• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-onprem-fmc-authbypass-5JPp45V2

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Status	Date
  2.4	Updated information about customer action with hot fixes.	Indicators of Compromise and Fixed Software	Final	2026-AUG-05
  2.3	Updated CLI command.	Indicators of Compromise	Final	2026-AUG-05
  2.2	Updated to make it clear to contact TAC if compromise is suspected.	Indications of Compromise and Workarounds	Final	2026-JUL-31
  2.1	Updated the code example.	Indicators of Compromise	Final	2026-JUL-31
  2.0	Added Cisco Bug ID CSCwt95974, indicators of compromise, and hot fixes.	Summary, Workarounds, Indicators of Compromise, and Fixed Software	Final	2026-JUL-31
  1.0	Initial public release.	—	Final	2026-MAR-04

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