# CVE-2022-20650: Cisco NX-OS Software NX-API Command Injection Vulnerability

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary root commands on Cisco NX-OS devices via the NX-API feature, which is disabled by default.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Feb 2022
- **Updated:** 6 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3hrp-jhgv-872c

## What is CVE-2022-20650?

CVE-2022-20650 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 23 Feb 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the NX-API feature of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of user supplied data that is sent to the NX-API. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP POST request to the NX-API of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system. Note: The NX-API feature is disabled by default.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-20650?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Nx-Os.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-20650?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-20650 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-20650 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20650 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Nx-Os

- [CVE-2024-20399](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20399/): Cisco NX-OS Command Injection (medium 6.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-1361](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1361/): Cisco NX-OS Software Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Actions Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-0301](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0301/): Memory corruption in Cisco NX-OS unknown (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-1453](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1453/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-1341](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1341/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-20650 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-20650 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 23 Feb 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20650 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-2022-20650/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20650/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-20650
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-20650
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-20650

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20650/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.