A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated user in possession of Administrator credentials to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments that are passed to specific configuration CLI commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including crafted input as the argument of an affected configuration CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of root.
To successfully exploit this vulnerability on a Cisco NX-OS device, an attacker must have Administrator credentials. The following Cisco devices already allow administrative users to access the underlying operating system through the bash-shell feature, so, for these devices, this vulnerability does not grant any additional privileges: Nexus 3000 Series Switches, Nexus 7000 Series Switches that are running Cisco NX-OS Software releases 8.1(1) and later, and Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode.
With a CVSS score of 6.0, this medium-severity vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations utilizing affected Cisco NX-OS devices. The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access and manipulation of critical system commands if exploited. Organizations should prioritize remediation to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
As of now, there are no public exploits confirmed, but it is classified as actively exploited in the wild. Organizations should address this issue in their priority patch cycle.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to execute arbitrary commands as root. The affected component is Cisco NX-OS, with a CVSS score of 6.0, indicating a medium severity level. The vulnerability was published on July 1, 2024, and is classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')).
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input in specific CLI commands. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability by injecting crafted input, leading to command execution on the underlying operating system. The attack vector is local, requiring high privileges, and no user interaction is needed. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are both high, while the availability impact is none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risks include potential unauthorized access to critical system functions, which could lead to data breaches, system manipulation, or other malicious activities. Organizations need to assess how this vulnerability could affect their operational environment and consider the potential blast radius of an exploit. Given the active exploitation status, organizations should prioritize remediation based on the criticality of their Cisco NX-OS deployments.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations are advised to apply the latest patches from Cisco to mitigate this vulnerability. If patches are unavailable, consider implementing network controls and configuration hardening to limit the exposure of affected devices. For further details on security testing, organizations should refer to penetration testing services.
Detection Guidance
Monitor logs for any suspicious command executions or unauthorized access attempts on Cisco NX-OS devices. Behavioral anomalies in command-line interactions may also indicate an exploit attempt.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in command-line interfaces, particularly for network devices. Security teams should learn from this incident to enhance their input handling mechanisms. To further strengthen defenses, organizations may consider reviewing their security posture and implementing continuous security assessments. For more information on security assessments, refer to the following resources: penetration testing methodology, vulnerability management program design, and cloud penetration testing guide.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)