# CVE-2025-20161: Cisco NX-OS Software Command Injection Vulnerability

> An authenticated local attacker can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges by installing a crafted software image on Cisco Nexus switches.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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:** 26 Feb 2025
- **Updated:** 27 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wc27-6x2h-q38w

## What is CVE-2025-20161?

CVE-2025-20161 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software, published on 26 Feb 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the software upgrade process of Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode could allow an authenticated, local attacker with valid Administrator credentials to execute a command injection attack on the underlying operating system of an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of specific elements within a software image. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by installing a crafted image. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges. 
Note: Administrators should validate the hash of any software image before installation.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-20161?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-20161?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-20161 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-20161 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-20161 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-20161 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-20161 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software, published on 26 Feb 2025. 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-2025-20161 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco NX-OS Software. 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-2025-20161/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20161/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-20161
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20161
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-20161

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20161/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.