Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-4X82-6PHF-H73C

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-11 18:30 – Updated: 2026-03-11 18:30

Details

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.

Severity

8.8 (High)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-20040"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-78"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-11T17:16:54Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.\n\nThis vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.",
  "id": "GHSA-4x82-6phf-h73c",
  "modified": "2026-03-11T18:30:33Z",
  "published": "2026-03-11T18:30:33Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20040"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-privesc-bF8D5U4W"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

CVE-2026-20040 (GCVE-0-2026-20040)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-03-11 16:31 – Updated: 2026-03-12 03:55

Title

Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Summary

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.

Severity

8.8 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-03-11 00:00 UTC

CWE

CWE-78 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

Assigner

cisco mitre root

References

1 reference

URL	Tags
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/c…

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
Cisco	Cisco IOS XR Software	Affected: 6.5.3 Affected: 6.5.29 Affected: 6.5.1 Affected: 6.6.1 Affected: 6.5.2 Affected: 6.5.92 Affected: 6.5.15 Affected: 6.6.2 Affected: 7.0.1 Affected: 6.6.25 Affected: 6.5.26 Affected: 6.6.11 Affected: 6.5.25 Affected: 6.5.28 Affected: 6.5.93 Affected: 6.6.12 Affected: 6.5.90 Affected: 7.1.1 Affected: 7.0.90 Affected: 6.6.3 Affected: 6.7.1 Affected: 7.0.2 Affected: 7.1.15 Affected: 7.2.1 Affected: 7.1.2 Affected: 6.7.2 Affected: 7.0.11 Affected: 7.0.12 Affected: 7.0.14 Affected: 7.1.25 Affected: 6.6.4 Affected: 7.2.12 Affected: 7.3.1 Affected: 7.1.3 Affected: 6.7.3 Affected: 7.4.1 Affected: 7.2.2 Affected: 6.7.4 Affected: 6.5.31 Affected: 7.3.15 Affected: 7.3.16 Affected: 6.8.1 Affected: 7.4.15 Affected: 6.5.32 Affected: 7.3.2 Affected: 7.5.1 Affected: 7.4.16 Affected: 7.3.27 Affected: 7.6.1 Affected: 7.5.2 Affected: 7.8.1 Affected: 7.6.15 Affected: 7.5.12 Affected: 7.8.12 Affected: 7.3.3 Affected: 7.7.1 Affected: 6.8.2 Affected: 7.3.4 Affected: 7.4.2 Affected: 6.7.35 Affected: 6.9.1 Affected: 7.6.2 Affected: 7.5.3 Affected: 7.7.2 Affected: 6.9.2 Affected: 7.9.1 Affected: 7.10.1 Affected: 7.8.2 Affected: 7.5.4 Affected: 6.5.33 Affected: 7.8.22 Affected: 7.7.21 Affected: 7.9.2 Affected: 7.3.5 Affected: 7.5.5 Affected: 7.11.1 Affected: 7.9.21 Affected: 7.10.2 Affected: 24.1.1 Affected: 7.6.3 Affected: 7.3.6 Affected: 7.5.52 Affected: 7.11.2 Affected: 24.2.1 Affected: 24.1.2 Affected: 24.2.11 Affected: 24.3.1 Affected: 24.4.1 Affected: 24.2.2 Affected: 7.8.23 Affected: 7.11.21 Affected: 24.2.20 Affected: 24.3.2 Affected: 24.4.10 Affected: 6.5.35 Affected: 25.1.1 Affected: 24.4.2 Affected: 24.3.20 Affected: 24.4.15 Affected: 25.2.1 Affected: 6.5.351 Affected: 25.1.2 Affected: 24.3.30 Affected: 25.3.1 Affected: 6.5.352 Affected: 24.4.30 Affected: 24.2.21 Affected: 25.4.1 Affected: 25.2.2 Affected: 25.2.15 Affected: 7.2.0 Affected: 7.0.0 Affected: 25.2.30 Affected: 6.5.353 Affected: 25.1.30 Affected: 25.3.15

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JSON

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{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-20040",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-03-11T00:00:00+00:00",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-03-12T03:55:35.692Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.3"
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              "status": "affected",
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              "version": "6.5.2"
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            {
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              "status": "affected",
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              "status": "affected",
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.4.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.2.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.7.4"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.31"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.15"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.16"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.8.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.4.15"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.32"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.2"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.5.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.4.16"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.27"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.6.1"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.5.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.8.1"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.6.15"
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              "status": "affected",
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.8.12"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.3"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.7.1"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.8.2"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.4"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.4.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.7.35"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.9.1"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.6.2"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.5.3"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.7.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.9.2"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.9.1"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.10.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.8.2"
            },
            {
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              "version": "7.5.4"
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              "version": "7.7.21"
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              "version": "7.9.2"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.5"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.5.5"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.11.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.9.21"
            },
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.10.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.1.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.6.3"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.3.6"
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              "version": "7.5.52"
            },
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            },
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              "version": "24.2.11"
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              "status": "affected",
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            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.2.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.8.23"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.11.21"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.2.20"
            },
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.3.2"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.4.10"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.35"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.1.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.4.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.3.20"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.4.15"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.2.1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.351"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.1.2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.3.30"
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.3.1"
            },
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.352"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "24.4.30"
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              "version": "25.4.1"
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              "version": "7.2.0"
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            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "7.0.0"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.2.30"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.5.353"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.1.30"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "25.3.15"
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          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system of an affected device.\r\n\r\nThis vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user arguments that are passed to specific CLI commands. An attacker with a low-privileged account could exploit this vulnerability by using crafted commands at the prompt. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to root and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system."
        }
      ],
      "exploits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerabilities that are described in this advisory."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "baseScore": 8.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "scope": "CHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "format": "cvssV3_1"
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-78",
              "description": "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (\u0027OS Command Injection\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "cwe"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-03-11T16:31:14.292Z",
        "orgId": "d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633",
        "shortName": "cisco"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "cisco-sa-iosxr-privesc-bF8D5U4W",
          "url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxr-privesc-bF8D5U4W"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "cisco-sa-iosxr-privesc-bF8D5U4W",
        "defects": [
          "CSCwp27221"
        ],
        "discovery": "INTERNAL"
      },
      "title": "Cisco IOS XR Software CLI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633",
    "assignerShortName": "cisco",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-20040",
    "datePublished": "2026-03-11T16:31:14.292Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-10-08T11:59:15.354Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-03-12T03:55:35.692Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.