CVE-2019-1728: A vulnerability in the Secure Configuration Validation functionality of Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, loc...

Description

A vulnerability in the Secure Configuration Validation functionality of Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to run arbitrary commands at system boot time with the privileges of root. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper validation of system files when the persistent configuration information is read from the file system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and overwriting the persistent configuration storage with malicious executable files. An exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands at system startup and those commands will run as the root user. The attacker must have valid administrative credentials for the device.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

0.25%

16.3th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 8.1, < 8.1\(1b\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 8.2, < 8.3\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 7.0\(3\)i7, < 7.0\(3\)i7\(3\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 6.0\(2\)a8, < 6.0\(2\)a8\(11\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 7.0\(3\), < 7.0\(3\)i7\(3\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 7.3, < 7.3\(4\)n1\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 6.2, < 6.2\(22\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 7.2, < 7.3\(3\)d1\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 8.0, < 8.3\(1\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 4.0, < 4.0\(1a\)
Cisco	Nx-Os	>= 2.4, < 2.4.1.101

References

Timeline

Published: May 15, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-1728?

A vulnerability in the Secure Configuration Validation functionality of Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to run arbitrary commands at system boot time with the privileges of root. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper validation of system files when the persistent configuration information is read from the file system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and overwriting the persistent configuration storage with malicious executable files. An exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands at system startup and those commands will run as the root user. The attacker must have valid administrative credentials for the device.

How severe is CVE-2019-1728?

Severity scoring for CVE-2019-1728 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 0.25% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2019-1728?

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.