CVE-2024-20397
Cisco NX-OS Software Image Verification Bypass Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device, or an authenticated, local attacker with administrative credentials, to bypass NX-OS image signature verification.
This vulnerability is due to insecure bootloader settings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing a series of bootloader commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass NX-OS image signature verification and load unverified software.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Cisco NX-OS Software Image Verification Bypass Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device, or an authenticated, local attacker with administrative credentials, to bypass NX-OS image signature verification.
This vulnerability is due to insecure bootloader settings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing a series of bootloader commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass NX-OS image signature verification and load unverified software.
- Record
CVE-2024-20397- CVSS 3.1
- 5.2 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-18112
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device, or an authenticated, local attacker with administrative credentials, to bypass NX-OS image signature verification.
This vulnerability is due to insecure bootloader settings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing a series of bootloader commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass NX-OS image signature verification and load unverified software.
- Record
EUVD-2024-18112- CVSS 3.1
- 5.2 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-p5rq-7r6m-x7rf
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker...
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device, or an authenticated, local attacker with administrative credentials, to bypass NX-OS image signature verification.
This vulnerability is due to insecure bootloader settings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing a series of bootloader commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass NX-OS image signature verification and load unverified software.
- Record
GHSA-p5rq-7r6m-x7rf- CVSS 3.1
- 5.2 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
A vulnerability in the bootloader of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to an affected device, or an authenticated, local attacker with administrative credentials, to bypass NX-OS image signature verification.
This vulnerability is due to insecure bootloader settings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing a series of bootloader commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass NX-OS image signature verification and load unverified software.
- Record
CVE-2024-20397- CVSS 3.1
- 5.2 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2024-20397 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.2) in Cisco Nx-os Software, published December 4, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.30%, the 22nd percentile. No source names a fixed version.