# CVE-2020-3173: Cisco UCS Manager Software Local Management CLI Command Injection Vulnerability

> Authenticated local attackers can inject commands into the Cisco UCS Manager CLI to execute arbitrary OS commands, potentially gaining root privileges on specific hardware.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 15 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v2mf-949v-6qrh

## What is CVE-2020-3173?

CVE-2020-3173 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed), published on 26 Feb 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the local management (local-mgmt) CLI of Cisco UCS Manager Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system (OS) on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including crafted arguments to specific commands on the local management CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying OS with the privileges of the currently logged-in user for all affected platforms excluding Cisco UCS 6400 Series Fabric Interconnects. On Cisco UCS 6400 Series Fabric Interconnects, the injected commands are executed with root privileges.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3173?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Ucs Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-3173?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3173 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-3173 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed)

- [CVE-2025-20296](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20296/): Cisco UCS Manager Software Stored Software Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-3173 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-3173 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed), published on 26 Feb 2020. 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-2020-3173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed). 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-2020-3173/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3173/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-3173
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3173
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-3173

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3173/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.