CVE-2023-20261 Path traversal in Cisco SD-WAN vManage

Medium 6.5 Published 18 Oct 2023 Updated 12 Jun 2025

Authenticated attackers can retrieve arbitrary files from the underlying Linux file system via improper parameter validation in the web UI.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2023-20261?

CVE-2023-20261 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst Sd-Wan Manager, published on 18 Oct 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to retrieve arbitrary files from an affected system. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of parameters that are sent to the web UI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager and issuing crafted requests using the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain arbitrary files from the underlying Linux file system of an affected system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must be an authenticated user.

Weakness: CWE-284

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20261?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Cisco Catalyst Sd-Wan Manager.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20261?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20261 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2023-20261 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20261 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Cisco Catalyst Sd-Wan Manager vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-5948-mwp6-h3vh.