# CVE-2023-20121: Command injection in Cisco Identity Services Engine Software

> Authenticated local attackers can escape the restricted shell to gain root privileges on Cisco EPNM, ISE, and Prime Infrastructure systems.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 5 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 28 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wfj6-f52r-g6f6

## What is CVE-2023-20121?

CVE-2023-20121 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager, published on 5 Apr 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple vulnerabilities in the restricted shell of Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM), Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), and Cisco Prime Infrastructure could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape the restricted shell and gain root privileges on the underlying operating system. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20121?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager, Cisco Identity Services Engine, Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20121?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20121 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-20121 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager

- [CVE-2016-1289](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1289/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-1291](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1291/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-1487](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1487/): Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager Command Injection Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-1821](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1821/): Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Evolved Programmable Network Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-1822](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1822/): Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Evolved Programmable Network Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20121 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20121 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager, published on 5 Apr 2023. 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-2023-20121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Evolved Programmable 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-2023-20121/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20121/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20121
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20121
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20121

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20121/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.