# CVE-2024-20438: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Unauthorized REST API Vulnerability

> Authenticated low-privileged attackers can read or write files via unauthorized REST API endpoints in Cisco NDFC.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-ghg6-rfg3-53g7

## What is CVE-2024-20438?

CVE-2024-20438 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 2 Oct 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the REST API endpoints of Cisco NDFC could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, remote attacker to read or write files on an affected device.

This vulnerability exists because of missing authorization controls on some REST API endpoints. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted API requests to an affected endpoint. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform limited network-admin functions such as reading device configuration information, uploading files, and modifying uploaded files.
Note: This vulnerability only affects a subset of REST API endpoints and does not affect the web-based management interface.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-20438?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Cisco Nexus Dashboard, Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-20438?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-20438 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-20438 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-20438 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Data Center Network Manager

- [CVE-2022-20857](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20857/): Cisco Nexus Dashboard Unauthorized Access Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-20858](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20858/): Cisco Nexus Dashboard Unauthorized Access Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-20861](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20861/): Cisco Nexus Dashboard Unauthorized Access Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-20163](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20163/): Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller SSH Host Key Vulnerability (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2024-20281](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20281/): Cross-site request forgery in Cisco Data Center Network Manager (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-20438 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-20438 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 2 Oct 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-20438 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-2024-20438/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20438/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-20438
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20438
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-20438

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20438/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.