CVE-2018-0306: A vulnerability in the CLI parser of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a command-injection attack on an aff...

Description

A vulnerability in the CLI parser of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a command-injection attack on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious command arguments into a vulnerable CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the affected device. Note: This vulnerability requires that any feature license is uploaded to the device. The vulnerability does not require that the license be used. This vulnerability affects MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches, Nexus 1000V Series Switches, Nexus 1100 Series Cloud Services Platforms, Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders, Nexus 3000 Series Switches, Nexus 3500 Platform Switches, Nexus 3600 Platform Switches, Nexus 5500 Platform Switches, Nexus 5600 Platform Switches, Nexus 6000 Series Switches, Nexus 7000 Series Switches, Nexus 7700 Series Switches, Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode, Nexus 9500 R-Series Line Cards and Fabric Modules. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve51693, CSCve91634, CSCve91659, CSCve91663.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.56%

42.6th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cisco	Nx-Os	< 7.3\(3\)n1\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	8.1\(0.2\)s0
Cisco	Nx-Os	8.1\(0\)bd\(0.20\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	8.1\(0.59\)s0
Cisco	Nx-Os	8.1\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	6.0\(2\)a8\(3\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	< 5.2\(1\)sv3\(3.15\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	< 8.1\(1a\)

References

http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041169Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180620-nx-os-cli-executionVendor Advisory
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041169Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180620-nx-os-cli-executionVendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jun 21, 2018
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-0306?

A vulnerability in the CLI parser of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a command-injection attack on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious command arguments into a vulnerable CLI command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the affected device. Note: This vulnerability requires that any feature license is uploaded to the device. The vulnerability does not require that the license be used. This vulnerability affects MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches, Nexus 1000V Series Switches, Nexus 1100 Series Cloud Services Platforms, Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders, Nexus 3000 Series Switches, Nexus 3500 Platform Switches, Nexus 3600 Platform Switches, Nexus 5500 Platform Switches, Nexus 5600 Platform Switches, Nexus 6000 Series Switches, Nexus 7000 Series Switches, Nexus 7700 Series Switches, Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode, Nexus 9500 R-Series Line Cards and Fabric Modules. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve51693, CSCve91634, CSCve91659, CSCve91663.

How severe is CVE-2018-0306?

CVE-2018-0306 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.56% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2018-0306?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.