Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-3394 lets a user who already has valid access to certain Cisco Nexus switches become a full administrator without the enable password. The issue affects Nexus 3000 and 9000 switches running standalone NX-OS mode when the Enable Secret feature is in use. The feature is disabled by default.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where affected switches support critical network segments or shared infrastructure. The issue is not remotely exploitable without credentials, but successful abuse gives full switch control, which can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network operations.
Technical view
Cisco describes a logic error in the NX-OS enable command implementation. An authenticated local attacker with valid device credentials could issue the enable command and gain full administrative privileges without supplying the enable password. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8 with local access and low privileges required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in environments using Cisco Nexus 3000 or 9000 switches in standalone NX-OS mode, especially where Enable Secret is enabled and lower-privileged device accounts exist. Devices not using that feature have lower apparent exposure based on the source bundle.
Exploitation context
The sources do not show known active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false in the bundle. Exploitation requires valid credentials and local authenticated access to the affected device, so this is mainly an insider, stolen-credential, or post-compromise privilege escalation risk.
Researcher notes
The key conditions are authenticated local access, Cisco Nexus 3000 or 9000 hardware, standalone NX-OS mode, and Enable Secret usage. Public details in the bundle identify the logic error and impact but do not provide release-level fix details, so validate remediation directly against Cisco guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Nexus 3000 and 9000 switches running standalone NX-OS mode.
- Check whether the Enable Secret feature is enabled on those devices.
- Review Cisco advisory guidance for affected releases, fixed software, and workarounds.
- Restrict device login privileges to administrators with a clear operational need.
- Monitor administrative logins and privilege changes on affected switches.
Validation and detection
- Confirm device model, NX-OS mode, and software version against Cisco advisory guidance.
- Review switch configuration for use of the Enable Secret feature.
- Validate that non-admin accounts cannot obtain administrative privileges unexpectedly.
- Check AAA and local account lists for unnecessary low-privileged device users.
- Review logs for unexpected enable command use or privilege escalation events.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
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CWE-285: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-3394 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20200826 Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches Privilege Escalation VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Authorization
Improper Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.