CVE-2017-12340

What it is

A vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS System Software running on Cisco MDS Multilayer Director Switches, Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches, and Cisco Nexus 7700 Series Switches could allow an authenticated, local attacker to access the Bash shell of an affected device's operating system, even if the Bash shell is disabled on the system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are passed to certain functions of the Python scripting sandbox of the affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to escape the scripting sandbox and enter the Bash shell of the operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user for the affected system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have local access to the affected system and be authenticated to the affected system with administrative or Python execution privileges. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd86513.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with an admin-level account. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

0.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2017-11-30 09:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 01:03 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 4.2 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2017-11-30 09:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 01:03 UTC

Exploit probability

0.3% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-284 · Improper access control

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Cisco nx-os 8.1\(0.70\)s0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 4.2

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

High

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2017-12340.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2017-12340. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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