How severe is CVE-2023-20115?

CVE-2023-20115 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.

Is CVE-2023-20115 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (35th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-20115?

CVE-2023-20115 primarily affects Cisco Nx-os. In total, 30 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20115?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2023-20115 published?

CVE-2023-20115 was published on 2023-08-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-20115

CVE-2023-20115 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Nx-os with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.4. 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-671.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.4)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (35th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-671
Affected product: Cisco Nx-os
Published: 2023-08-23
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the SFTP server implementation for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to download or overwrite files from the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to a logic error when verifying the user role when an SFTP connection is opened to an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting and authenticating via SFTP as a valid, non-administrator user. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read or overwrite files from the underlying operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-20115?: A vulnerability in the SFTP server implementation for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to download or overwrite files from the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to a logic error when verifying the user role when an SFTP connection is opened to an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting and authenticating via SFTP as a valid, non-administrator user. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read or overwrite files from the underlying operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
How severe is CVE-2023-20115?: CVE-2023-20115 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2023-20115 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (35th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-20115?: CVE-2023-20115 primarily affects Cisco Nx-os. In total, 30 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20115?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-20115 published?: CVE-2023-20115 was published on 2023-08-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nxos-sftp-xVAp5Hfd

Affected products (30)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(2t\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(2v\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.2\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(6\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(7\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(7a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(8\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(9\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(10\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:9.3\(11\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.1\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.1\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.1\(2t\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(1q\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(3t\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.2\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.3\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:10.3\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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