Unauthenticated controller reload via malformed CAPWAP packet
Published Mar 25, 2026 · Updated Mar 25, 2026
Denial of service in Cisco IOS XE Wireless Controller Software allows remote attackers to reload CW9800H and CW9800M controllers. The CAPWAP packet processor improperly handles a missing value in a malformed packet and forces the affected controller to reload unexpectedly. No authentication or special device configuration is required, and the resulting reboot interrupts wireless controller service without reported data disclosure or modification.
Summary
What happened
Denial of service in Cisco IOS XE Wireless Controller Software allows remote attackers to reload CW9800H and CW9800M controllers. The CAPWAP packet processor improperly handles a missing value in a malformed packet and forces the affected controller to reload unexpectedly. No authentication or special device configuration is required, and the resulting reboot interrupts wireless controller service without reported data disclosure or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-20086
- Published
- Mar 25, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 25, 2026
- Vendor
- ClamAV
- Product
- Cisco IOS XE Software
- Classifications
- CWE-230, T1499
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=17.14.1
- Affected versionversion=17.15.1
- Affected versionversion=17.15.2
- Affected versionversion=17.15.2b
- Affected versionversion=17.15.3
- Affected versionversion=17.15.4
- Affected versionversion=17.15.4d
- Affected versionversion=17.16.1
- Affected versionversion=17.17.1
- Affected versionversion=17.18.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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