CVE-2026-76449: Cisco ISE SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-76449 Overview

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) contain a SQL and HQL injection vulnerability in affected APIs. An authenticated remote attacker with valid administrative credentials can send crafted requests to execute arbitrary SQL or HQL queries against the underlying database. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to view or modify data outside their authorization scope. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input before it is incorporated into database queries [CWE-89].

Critical Impact
Authenticated administrators can execute arbitrary SQL or HQL statements against the ISE backend database, enabling unauthorized read and write access to sensitive identity and policy data.

Affected Products

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
Cisco ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC)
See the Cisco Security Advisory for the fixed release matrix

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-16 - CVE-2026-76449 published to NVD
2026-09-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-76449

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects API endpoints exposed by Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC that accept user-supplied parameters and use them to construct database queries. The affected code paths interact with the backend database using both SQL and Hibernate Query Language (HQL). Because input is not properly validated or parameterized, an attacker can inject query fragments that alter the semantics of the executed statement.

Exploitation requires valid administrative credentials, which limits the attack surface to authenticated sessions. Once authenticated, the attacker gains the ability to read or modify data beyond their authorization boundary. This includes potential access to identity records, policy definitions, and configuration state stored by ISE.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input validation before string concatenation into SQL and HQL queries [CWE-89]. Instead of using parameterized queries or bind variables, affected APIs incorporate attacker-controlled values directly into query text. This allows metacharacters and query keywords supplied by the client to be interpreted as query logic by the database engine.

Attack Vector

The attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable ISE or ISE-PIC API endpoint over the management network. The request includes injection payloads within parameters that reach the backend query builder. Because the vulnerability requires administrative privileges, the primary risk scenarios involve compromised admin accounts, insider misuse, or lateral movement following credential theft.

No verified proof-of-concept code is available. See the Cisco Security Advisory: SQL Injection for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-76449

Indicators of Compromise

Administrative API requests containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, -- sequences, UNION SELECT, or HQL keywords like FROM and WHERE in unexpected parameters.
Unexpected database query errors or stack traces in ISE application logs correlated with administrative sessions.
Administrative account activity from unusual source IP addresses or outside change windows.

Detection Strategies

Enable and centralize ISE administrative audit logging, then alert on API calls to endpoints that receive malformed or oversized parameter values.
Correlate authentication events with subsequent API activity to identify admin accounts issuing atypical query patterns.
Deploy inspection at the network layer for management-plane traffic to flag requests containing SQL or HQL injection signatures.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward ISE and ISE-PIC syslog and audit data to a centralized analytics platform for retention and query.
Baseline normal administrative API usage and alert on deviations in request volume, parameter length, or endpoint access.
Monitor for changes to ISE database records that do not correspond to sanctioned change tickets or workflows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-76449

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed software releases identified in the Cisco Security Advisory.
Audit all ISE administrative accounts, remove unused accounts, and enforce multi-factor authentication for remaining admins.
Rotate credentials for administrative accounts that may have been exposed or shared.

Patch Information

Cisco has published a security advisory covering this vulnerability. Refer to the Cisco Security Advisory: SQL Injection for the list of fixed releases and upgrade guidance for both ISE and ISE-PIC deployments.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workarounds are listed; upgrading to a fixed release is the required remediation.
Restrict access to the ISE management interface to a dedicated administrative network and known jump hosts.
Apply least-privilege role assignments so administrators only have the permissions required for their duties.

bash

# Restrict management-plane access to an approved admin subnet
# Example ACL applied on the upstream firewall or router
permit tcp 10.10.20.0/24 host <ISE_MGMT_IP> eq 443
deny   tcp any host <ISE_MGMT_IP> eq 443