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CVE Record

CVE-2019-12717: Cisco NX-OS Software Virtualization Manager Command Injection Vulnerability

A vulnerability in a CLI command related to the virtualization manager (VMAN) in Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying Linux operating system with root privileges. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of arguments passed to a specific VMAN CLI command on an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by including malicious input as the argument of an affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying Linux operating system with root privileges, which may lead to complete system compromise. An attacker would need valid administrator credentials to exploit this vulnerability.

MediumCVSS 6.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-12717 lets a logged-in Cisco NX-OS administrator abuse a virtualization manager CLI command to run operating-system commands as root. It is not a remote unauthenticated issue, but compromise by a malicious or stolen admin account could fully control the device.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted infrastructure risk, not an internet-wide emergency. Prioritize affected NX-OS devices that are business-critical or have broad administrative access, because successful exploitation can lead to root-level device compromise.

Technical view

The issue is CWE-78 command injection in argument validation for a VMAN-related NX-OS CLI command. Cisco and CVE describe local attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The bundle names Cisco NX-OS Software 5.0(3)A1(1).

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to organizations with Cisco NX-OS devices running the named affected release and where administrator CLI access exists. The source bundle does not identify other affected releases or platforms.

Exploitation context

The source bundle says exploitation requires valid administrator credentials and local access to the affected CLI command. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports command injection with root impact but does not provide safe verification details, fixed-version data, or exploit-in-the-wild evidence. Avoid assuming broader NX-OS exposure beyond the versions named in the provided bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Cisco’s advisory for fixed releases and supported upgrade guidance.
  • Inventory NX-OS devices for Cisco NX-OS Software 5.0(3)A1(1).
  • Restrict administrator access to trusted personnel and managed administration paths.
  • Review and remove stale, shared, or unnecessary administrator accounts.
  • Monitor Cisco guidance for any updated remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any NX-OS device runs the named affected version.
  • Verify who has administrator CLI access to those devices.
  • Review administrative logs for unexpected VMAN-related CLI activity.
  • Check for unexplained Linux-level changes on affected devices where visibility exists.
  • Document remediation status against the Cisco advisory.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup

Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-12717 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.7 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.7CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.7Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2019-12717Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco NX-OS Software 5.0(3)A1(1)unspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-78 · source CWE mapping

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

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.