# CVE-2017-12338: Path traversal in Cisco NX-OS

> An authenticated local attacker can read arbitrary files on Cisco NX-OS devices via insufficient input validation in a CLI command.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p6qh-hf5h-ppmg

## What is CVE-2017-12338?

CVE-2017-12338 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 30 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco NX-OS System Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to read the contents of arbitrary files. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation for a specific CLI command. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by issuing a crafted command on the CLI. An exploit could allow the attacker unauthorized access to read arbitrary files on the underlying local file system. On products that support multiple virtual device contexts (VDCs), this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read files from any VDC. This vulnerability affects the following products running Cisco NX-OS System Software: Multilayer Director Switches, Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders, Nexus 3000 Series Switches, Nexus 5000 Series Switches, Nexus 5500 Platform Switches, Nexus 5600 Platform Switches, Nexus 6000 Series Switches, Nexus 7000 Series Switches, Nexus 7700 Series Switches, Nexus 9000 Series Fabric Switches in Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) mode, Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode, Nexus 9500 R-Series Line Cards and Fabric Modules, Unified Computing System Manager. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve51707, CSCve93961, CSCve93964, CSCve93965, CSCve93968, CSCve93974, CSCve93976.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12338?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Cisco Lan Switch Software, Cisco Nx-Os, Cisco Unified Computing System.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12338?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-12338 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-12338 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Nx-Os

- [CVE-2017-12339](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12339/): Command injection in Cisco NX-OS (medium 5.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-12338 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-12338 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 30 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Nx-Os. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12338/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12338/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12338
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12338
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-12338

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12338/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.