cisco-sa-nxos-mppe-dhKZAFgbMediumCVSS 4.4

Cisco NX-OS Software Python Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

Published
October 7, 2026
Last Modified
October 7, 2026

🔗 CVE IDs covered (1)

CVE-2026-20032 →

📋 Description

A vulnerability in the Python interpreter of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with low privileges to escape the Python sandbox and gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system of an affected device.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating specific functions within the Python interpreter. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to escape the Python sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user.

Note: An attacker must be authenticated with Python execution privileges to exploit this vulnerability. For more information regarding Python execution privileges, see product-specific documentation, such as the Cisco NX-OS Security with Python ["https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/106x/programmability/cisco-nexus-9000-series-nx-os-programmability-guide-106x/m-n9k-python-api-101x.html?bookSearch=true#concept_A2CFF094ADCB414C983EA06AD8E9A410"] section of the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Programmability Guide.

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

This advisory is part of a group of advisories. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Advance Notification for Publication of October 7, 2026, Security Advisories ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-notice-fBn58ELx"]. For further documentation of improvements and fixes in Cisco NX-OS Software, see Cisco NX-OS Software Security Hardening Release: October 2026 ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hardening-nxosw1-cWzSbtR"].

CVE-2026-20032 — Cisco NX-OS Software Python Sandbox Escape Vulnerability (CVSS 3.1 4.4, CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N)

🎯 Affected products148

  • Cisco MDS 9000 Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches
  • Cisco NX-OS Software
  • Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches
  • Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches
  • Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(1)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(2)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3o)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3p)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3q)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3r)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3w)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(3x)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(4)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(4a)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(4g)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(4h)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(5)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(6)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(7)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(8)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(9)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(99w)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.3(99x)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.4(1)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.4(2)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.4(3)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.4(4)
  • Cisco NX-OS Software 10.4(4g)
  • +118 more not shown

✅ Remediation

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. https://software.cisco.com Workarounds: There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. Live Protect Shield Cisco has released a Live Protect shield for CVE-2026-20032 ["https://software.cisco.com/download/products?swtypemdfid=286346710&relver=10.6(3)"] to temporarily mitigate this vulnerability for Cisco NX-OS Software. When deployed, this Live Protect shield will protect only new CLI sessions and not existing sessions. For information about Live Protect for Cisco NX-OS Software, see Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide ["https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/106x/configuration/security/cisco-nexus-9000-series-nx-os-security-configuration-guide-release-106x/m-secure-nx-os-with-live-protect.html"]. Note: Live Protect shields are temporary mitigations to bridge the gap until software updates can be scheduled. To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade to a fixed software release as noted in the Fixed Software ["#fs"] section of this advisory.

🔗 References (15)