---
id: "CVE-2026-20241"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-20241"]
title: "Cisco ISE: missing authorization lets remote users obtain endpoint identity certificates"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["cisco", "infrastructure", "ise", "network-access-control"]
not_affected_if: ["not-running-ise", "not-running-ise-pic"]
published_at: "2026-11-04T17:17:35+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-04T17:28:12+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-04T17:28:47+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20241", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-04T17:28:12+00:00"}]
---

# Cisco ISE: missing authorization lets remote users obtain endpoint identity certificates

Cisco Identity Services Engine and its Passive Identity Connector check authorization improperly on some requests. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a crafted request and obtain an endpoint identity certificate.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Confirm whether Cisco ISE or ISE-PIC is deployed in the environment
- Check the installed version against the affected ranges in the Cisco advisory (unknown from these sources)

## Timeline

- 2026-11-04T17:28:12+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20241

## From the sources

A vulnerability in the authorization mechanism of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to obtain an endpoint identity certificate.

This vulnerability is due to improper authorization checks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass authorization to obtain an endpoint certificate.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_