CVE-2023-20115Network attack vector

Authenticated file access via incorrect SFTP role check

Published Aug 23, 2023 · Updated Oct 2, 2024

Authorization failure in Cisco NX-OS Software allows remote authenticated users to read or overwrite device files through SFTP. The SFTP connection handler incorrectly accepts a valid non-administrator role and grants file operations with that account's underlying privileges. Exploitation requires a vulnerable Nexus 3000 or standalone-mode Nexus 9000 switch with the SFTP server enabled, a feature disabled by default.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization failure in Cisco NX-OS Software allows remote authenticated users to read or overwrite device files through SFTP. The SFTP connection handler incorrectly accepts a valid non-administrator role and grants file operations with that account's underlying privileges. Exploitation requires a vulnerable Nexus 3000 or standalone-mode Nexus 9000 switch with the SFTP server enabled, a feature disabled by default.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20115
Published
Aug 23, 2023
Updated
Oct 2, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco NX-OS Software
Classifications
CWE-671, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 2, 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=10.1(1)
  2. Affected versionversion=10.1(2)
  3. Affected versionversion=10.1(2t)
  4. Affected versionversion=10.2(1)
  5. Affected versionversion=10.2(1q)
  6. Affected versionversion=10.2(2)
  7. Affected versionversion=10.2(3)
  8. Affected versionversion=10.2(3t)
  9. Affected versionversion=10.2(4)
  10. Affected versionversion=10.2(5)
  11. Affected versionversion=10.3(1)
  12. Affected versionversion=10.3(2)
  13. Affected versionversion=9.2(1)
  14. Affected versionversion=9.2(2)
  15. Affected versionversion=9.2(2t)
  16. Affected versionversion=9.2(2v)
  17. Affected versionversion=9.2(3)
  18. Affected versionversion=9.2(4)
  19. Affected versionversion=9.3(1)
  20. Affected versionversion=9.3(10)
  21. Affected versionversion=9.3(11)
  22. Affected versionversion=9.3(2)
  23. Affected versionversion=9.3(3)
  24. Affected versionversion=9.3(4)
  25. Affected versionversion=9.3(5)
  26. Affected versionversion=9.3(6)
  27. Affected versionversion=9.3(7)
  28. Affected versionversion=9.3(7a)
  29. Affected versionversion=9.3(8)
  30. Affected versionversion=9.3(9)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco NX-OS Softwareversion=10.1(1); version=10.1(2); version=10.1(2t); version=10.2(1); version=10.2(1q); version=10.2(2); version=10.2(3); version=10.2(3t); version=10.2(4); version=10.2(5); version=10.3(1); version=10.3(2); version=9.2(1); version=9.2(2); version=9.2(2t); version=9.2(2v); version=9.2(3); version=9.2(4); version=9.3(1); version=9.3(10); version=9.3(11); version=9.3(2); version=9.3(3); version=9.3(4); version=9.3(5); version=9.3(6); version=9.3(7); version=9.3(7a); version=9.3(8); version=9.3(9)

Published CVSS scores

5.4CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-671Lack of Administrator Control over Security
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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

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Your stack

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