# CVE-2020-3523: Cisco Data Center Network Manager Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

> An authenticated attacker can execute arbitrary scripts or access sensitive browser data via XSS in Cisco DCNM's web interface.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Aug 2020
- **Updated:** 13 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-32gp-fwr8-mvxm

## What is CVE-2020-3523?

CVE-2020-3523 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 26 Aug 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface. The vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3523?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Data Center Network Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-3523?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3523 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-3523 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3523 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Data Center Network Manager

- [CVE-2020-3382](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3382/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15975](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15975/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15976](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15976/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15977/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-1619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1619/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-3523 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-3523 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 26 Aug 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3523 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Data Center Network Manager. 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-2020-3523/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3523/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-3523
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3523
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-3523

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3523/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.