How severe is CVE-2024-20278?

CVE-2024-20278 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2024-20278 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (42nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-20278?

CVE-2024-20278 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 43 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-20278?

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

Does CVE-2024-20278 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-20278 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-17993.

When was CVE-2024-20278 published?

CVE-2024-20278 was published on 2024-03-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-20278

CVE-2024-20278 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. 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-184.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (42nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-17993
Weakness: CWE-184
Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe
Published: 2024-03-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the NETCONF feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges to root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input over NETCONF to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges from Administrator to root.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-20278?: A vulnerability in the NETCONF feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges to root on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input over NETCONF to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges from Administrator to root.
How severe is CVE-2024-20278?: CVE-2024-20278 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2024-20278 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (42nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-20278?: CVE-2024-20278 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 43 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-20278?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2024-20278 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-20278 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-17993.
When was CVE-2024-20278 published?: CVE-2024-20278 was published on 2024-03-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-priv-esc-seAx6NLX

Affected products (43)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1w:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1z:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1z1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.3a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.6a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.7.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.7.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.8.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1w:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1x1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.1y1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.2a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.3a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.9.4a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.10.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.10.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.11.99sw:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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