# CVE-2024-20285: Cisco NX-OS Software Python Parser Escape Vulnerability

> An authenticated local attacker can escape the Python sandbox to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 28 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2hfc-mfgr-3gpf

## What is CVE-2024-20285?

CVE-2024-20285 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 28 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the Python interpreter of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, local attacker to escape the Python sandbox and gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system of the device.

The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating specific functions within the Python interpreter. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to escape the Python sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user. 
Note: An attacker must be authenticated with Python execution privileges to exploit these vulnerabilities. For more information regarding Python execution privileges, see product-specific documentation, such as the  section of the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Programmability Guide.

Weakness: CWE-653 (Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-20285?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Nx-Os.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-20285?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-20285 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-20285 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-20285 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-2024-20285 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-20285 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os, published on 28 Aug 2024. 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-2024-20285 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-2024-20285/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20285/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-20285
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20285
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-20285

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20285/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.