# CVE-2026-20042: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Configuration REST API Unauthorized Access Vulnerability

> An attacker with backup files and encryption keys can extract credentials to access internal APIs and execute arbitrary commands as root.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 2 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4jcc-jgc6-vpm7

## What is CVE-2026-20042?

CVE-2026-20042 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Nexus Dashboard, published on 1 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the configuration backup feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard could allow an attacker who has the encryption password and access to Full or Config-only backup files to access sensitive information.

This vulnerability exists because authentication details are included in the encrypted backup files. An attacker with a valid backup file and encryption password from an affected device could decrypt the backup file. The attacker could then use the authentication details in the backup file to access internal-only APIs on the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user.

Weakness: CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20042?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Nexus Dashboard.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-20042?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20042 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-20042 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20042 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Nexus Dashboard

- [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-2026-20042 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-20042 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Nexus Dashboard, published on 1 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20042 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Nexus Dashboard. 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-2026-20042/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20042/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20042
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20042
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20042

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20042/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.