CVE-2022-20681

Level 15 privilege escalation via unchecked CLI commands

Published Apr 15, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Privilege escalation in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software allows local users to execute arbitrary commands with level 15 privileges. After a low-privileged user executes certain CLI commands, the CLI insufficiently validates that user’s privileges before authorizing command execution. An authenticated session on an affected Catalyst 9000 switch or wireless controller is required, and Cisco has not disclosed the specific commands.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in the CLI of Cisco IOS XE Software allows local users to execute arbitrary commands with level 15 privileges. After a low-privileged user executes certain CLI commands, the CLI insufficiently validates that user’s privileges before authorizing command execution. An authenticated session on an affected Catalyst 9000 switch or wireless controller is required, and Cisco has not disclosed the specific commands.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20681
Published
Apr 15, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco IOS XE Software
Classifications
CWE-266, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 15, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco IOS XE Softwareversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-266Incorrect Privilege Assignment
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo