CVE-2024-20399 Overview
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 results from insufficient validation of arguments passed to specific configuration CLI commands. An attacker could exploit this by including crafted input as an argument of an affected configuration CLI command, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges. Note: For successful exploitation, an attacker must have Administrator credentials.
Critical Impact
Exploiting this vulnerability allows privilege escalation to execute commands as root, compromising the device's security.
Affected Products
- Cisco NX-OS
- Cisco Nexus 7000 Series
- Cisco Nexus 9000 Series
Discovery Timeline
- Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
- Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Cisco
- Not Available - CVE CVE-2024-20399 assigned
- Not Available - Cisco releases security patch
- 2024-07-01 - CVE CVE-2024-20399 published to NVD
- 2025-10-28 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-20399
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability lies in insufficient validation of inputs for specific CLI configurations in Cisco NX-OS. Such improper validation allows an attacker to inject crafted inputs, permitting command execution at the system level with administrative privileges.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation within the configuration command interface of Cisco NX-OS, which leads to command injection vulnerabilities.
Attack Vector
An attacker uses local access with Administrator credentials to inject malicious arguments into CLI commands, exploiting the vulnerability.
# Example exploitation code (Python)
import paramiko
client = paramiko.SSHClient()
client.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
client.connect('hostname', username='admin', password='password')
stdin, stdout, stderr = client.exec_command('conf t ; <crafted_input> ; end')
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20399
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected system configuration changes
- Unauthorized command execution traces
- Altered or illegitimate administrative access logs
Detection Strategies
Monitoring for unusual CLI command structures and unauthorized access attempts. Continuous log analysis can help identify suspicious commands and access patterns.
Monitoring Recommendations
Implement real-time monitoring of command logs with anomaly detection to alert on command execution patterns deviating from normal behavior.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20399
Immediate Actions Required
- Limit CLI access to trusted administrators
- Apply Cisco's security patches promptly
- Monitor and audit all command-line activities
Patch Information
Refer to Cisco's official advisory here for security updates.
Workarounds
Temporary access restrictions on administrative interfaces and strict IP access controls can reduce exposure to this vulnerability.
# Configuration example to restrict CLI access
set management access-list 101 permit ip any host <trusted_ip>
set management access-class 101 in
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
