How severe is CVE-2024-20320?

CVE-2024-20320 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2024-20320 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (9th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-20320?

CVE-2024-20320 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xr. In total, 25 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-20320?

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.

Does CVE-2024-20320 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-20320 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-18035.

When was CVE-2024-20320 published?

CVE-2024-20320 was published on 2024-03-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-20320

CVE-2024-20320 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xr with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. 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-266.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (9th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-18035
Weakness: CWE-266
Affected product: Cisco Ios Xr
Published: 2024-03-13
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the SSH client feature of Cisco IOS XR Software for Cisco 8000 Series Routers and Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) 540 Series and 5700 Series Routers could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments that are included with the SSH client CLI command. An attacker with low-privileged access to an affected device could exploit this vulnerability by issuing a crafted SSH client command to the CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root on the affected device.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-20320?: A vulnerability in the SSH client feature of Cisco IOS XR Software for Cisco 8000 Series Routers and Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) 540 Series and 5700 Series Routers could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments that are included with the SSH client CLI command. An attacker with low-privileged access to an affected device could exploit this vulnerability by issuing a crafted SSH client command to the CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root on the affected device.
How severe is CVE-2024-20320?: CVE-2024-20320 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-20320 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (9th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-20320?: CVE-2024-20320 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xr. In total, 25 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-20320?: 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.
Does CVE-2024-20320 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-20320 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-18035.
When was CVE-2024-20320 published?: CVE-2024-20320 was published on 2024-03-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-ssh-privesc-eWDMKew3

Affected products (25)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.3.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.7.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.9.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xr:7.10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xr

CVE-2020-3284 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A vulnerability in the enhanced Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) boot loader for Cisco IOS XR 64-bit Software could…
CVE-2019-1710 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A vulnerability in the sysadmin virtual machine (VM) on Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers running…
CVE-2025-20363 — Critical (CVSS 9.0): A vulnerability in the web services of Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software, Cisco Secure…
CVE-2026-20046 — High (CVSS 8.8): A vulnerability in task group assignment for a specific CLI command in Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an…
CVE-2026-20040 — High (CVSS 8.8): A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary…
CVE-2025-20138 — High (CVSS 8.8): A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary…

All CVEs affecting Cisco Ios Xr →

Other CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-23800 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in Modular DS modular-connector allows Privilege Escalation.This issue…
CVE-2025-41115 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SCIM provisioning was introduced in Grafana Enterprise and Grafana Cloud in April to improve how organizations manage…
CVE-2024-9479 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in upKeeper Solutions upKeeper Instant Privilege Access allows Privilege…
CVE-2024-9478 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in upKeeper Solutions upKeeper Instant Privilege Access allows Privilege…
CVE-2026-42368 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Web Interface functionality of GeoVision LPC2011/LPC2211 1.10. A…
CVE-2026-32922 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): OpenClaw before 2026.3.11 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in device.token.rotate that allows callers with…

Browse all CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment) vulnerabilities →