---
title: "CVE-2024-20399: Cisco NX-OS Command Injection Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-20399/
description: "CVE-2024-20399 (Cisco NX-OS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated user in…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-07-01
date_modified: 2025-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2024-20399"
kev: true
cvss: 6
epss: 0.04306
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2024-20399: Cisco NX-OS Command Injection Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Cisco NX-OS. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-07-02, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-07-23 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 4.3% , percentile 91: FIRST’s model estimates a 4.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 91% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

## What it is

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. Note: 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 Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Cisco Cisco NX-OS Software: 8.2(5), 7.3(6)N1(1a), 7.3(5)D1(1), 8.4(2), 7.3(6)N1(1), 6.2(2), 8.4(3), 9.2(3), 7.0(3)I5(2), 8.2(1), 6.0(2)A8(7a), 7.0(3)I4(5)

## Severity

- cisco CVSS 3.1: 6 `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2024-07-02; federal due date 2024-07-23. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 4.31% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 91.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nxos-cmd-injection-xD9OhyOP)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2024-20399](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-20399)
- [NVD entry CVE-2024-20399](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20399)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-20399)
- [sygnia.co](https://www.sygnia.co/threat-reports-and-advisories/china-nexus-threat-group-velvet-ant-exploits-cisco-0-day/)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-20399/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt