Privilege escalation in Cisco Secure Client via IPC channel
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Cisco Secure Client, specifically its Secure Firewall Posture module on Windows, macOS and Linux, is affected in listed versions starting at 4.9.00086. Improper input validation (CWE-20) in the interprocess communication channel lets crafted messages sent to a local socket perform limited file writes with SYSTEM or root privileges. An authenticated local attacker with low privileges can gain higher privileges, and on macOS and Linux this can lead to full root access.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
A vulnerability in the interprocess communication (IPC) channel of the Secure Firewall Posture module in Cisco Secure Client could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a series of crafted IPC messages to a local socket. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform limited file write operations on the filesystem with SYSTEM or root privileges. Although this vulnerability affects the Secure Firewall Posture module in Cisco Secure Client on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, this vulnerability could be used to obtain full root privileges on macOS and Linux. For that reason Cisco has assigned this security advisory a Security Impact Rating (SIR) of High rather than Medium as the score indicates.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Client | 4.9.00086; 4.9.01095; 4.9.02028; 4.9.03047; 4.9.03049; 4.9.04043; 4.9.04053; 4.9.05042; 4.9.06037; 4.10.00093; 4.10.01075; 4.10.02086; 4.10.03104; 4.10.04065; 4.10.04071; 4.10.05085; 4.10.05095; 5.0.00238; 4.10.05111; 5.0.00529; 5.0.00556; 4.10.06079; 5.0.01242; 4.10.06090; 5.0.02075; 4.10.07061; 5.0.03072; 4.10.07062; 5.0.03076; 5.0.04032; 4.10.07073; 5.0.05040; 5.1.0.136; 5.1.1.42; 4.10.08025; 5.1.2.42; 4.10.08029; 5.1.3.62; 5.1.4.74; 5.1.5.65; 5.1.6.103; 5.1.7.80; 5.1.8.105; 5.1.8.122; 5.1.9.113; 5.1.10.233; 5.1.11.388; 5.1.12.146; 5.1.13.117; 5.1.13.177; 5.1.14.145; 5.1.15.287; 5.1.16.194; 5.1.17.3382; 5.1.17.3394; 5.1.18.314; 5.1.19.1862 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Secure Client VendorCisco Affected 4.9.00086; 4.9.01095; 4.9.02028; 4.9.03047; 4.9.03049; 4.9.04043; 4.9.04053; 4.9.05042; 4.9.06037; 4.10.00093; 4.10.01075; 4.10.02086; 4.10.03104; 4.10.04065; 4.10.04071; 4.10.05085; 4.10.05095; 5.0.00238; 4.10.05111; 5.0.00529; 5.0.00556; 4.10.06079; 5.0.01242; 4.10.06090; 5.0.02075; 4.10.07061; 5.0.03072; 4.10.07062; 5.0.03076; 5.0.04032; 4.10.07073; 5.0.05040; 5.1.0.136; 5.1.1.42; 4.10.08025; 5.1.2.42; 4.10.08029; 5.1.3.62; 5.1.4.74; 5.1.5.65; 5.1.6.103; 5.1.7.80; 5.1.8.105; 5.1.8.122; 5.1.9.113; 5.1.10.233; 5.1.11.388; 5.1.12.146; 5.1.13.117; 5.1.13.177; 5.1.14.145; 5.1.15.287; 5.1.16.194; 5.1.17.3382; 5.1.17.3394; 5.1.18.314; 5.1.19.1862 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Cisco Secure Client.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-76462
- 2026-10-21 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-21 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-5f4j-pf3p-wcgw
- 2026-10-23 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More Cisco vulnerabilities
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- TI-2026-16388 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller Authentication Bypass Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-16344 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-76462 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-76462 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5f4j-pf3p-wcgw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences