# CVE-2020-3478: Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software File Overwrite Vulnerability

> An authenticated remote attacker can overwrite restricted files via the REST API due to insufficient authorization, potentially degrading system functionality.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 13 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pj8h-h42m-ghq2

## What is CVE-2020-3478?

CVE-2020-3478 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software, published on 4 Sep 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the REST API of Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to overwrite certain files that should be restricted on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization enforcement on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a file using the REST API. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to overwrite and upload files, which could degrade the functionality of the affected system.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3478?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Enterprise Nfv Infrastructure Software.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-3478?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3478 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-3478 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3478 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software

- [CVE-2022-20777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20777/): Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software Vulnerabilities (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2022-20779](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20779/): Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software Vulnerabilities (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2022-20780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20780/): Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software Vulnerabilities (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-34746](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34746/): Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3470](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3470/): Cisco Integrated Management Controller Multiple Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-3478 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-3478 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software, published on 4 Sep 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3478 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software. 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-2020-3478/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3478/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-3478
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3478
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-3478

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3478/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.