Cisco ISE Zero-Day CVE-2026-76460: When Network Access Controls Become Attack Vectors
Cisco disclosed CVE-2026-76460, a maximum-severity zero-day vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) that was actively exploited before disclosure in December 2026. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain full administrative control of ISE devices through an API flaw. Compromised ISE systems enable attackers to modify network access policies, extract stored credentials, delete audit logs, and move laterally across all network segments controlled by the device. This represents Cisco's second actively exploited zero-day disclosure within two days, highlighting an escalation in targeted attacks against critical network infrastructure. This incident underscores the growing sophistication of attacks targeting network access control systems and the critical importance of zero-trust architecture as traditional perimeter-based security models continue to fail against advanced persistent threats.
Kill Chain
