How severe is CVE-2020-3229?

CVE-2020-3229 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-3229 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-3229?

CVE-2020-3229 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 83 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-3229?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-3229 published?

CVE-2020-3229 was published on 2020-06-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-3229

CVE-2020-3229 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-863.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 9.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (92nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-863
Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe
Published: 2020-06-03
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in Role Based Access Control (RBAC) functionality of Cisco IOS XE Web Management Software could allow a Read-Only authenticated, remote attacker to execute commands or configuration changes as an Admin user. The vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of RBAC for the administration GUI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a modified HTTP request to the affected device. An exploit could allow the attacker as a Read-Only user to execute CLI commands or configuration changes as if they were an Admin user.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-3229?: A vulnerability in Role Based Access Control (RBAC) functionality of Cisco IOS XE Web Management Software could allow a Read-Only authenticated, remote attacker to execute commands or configuration changes as an Admin user. The vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of RBAC for the administration GUI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a modified HTTP request to the affected device. An exploit could allow the attacker as a Read-Only user to execute CLI commands or configuration changes as if they were an Admin user.
How severe is CVE-2020-3229?: CVE-2020-3229 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-3229 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-3229?: CVE-2020-3229 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 83 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-3229?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-3229 published?: CVE-2020-3229 was published on 2020-06-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-webui-PZgQxjfG

Affected products (83)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.5b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.5.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.5.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.4a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.4s:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.5b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.7a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.6.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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