CVE-2022-20824

What it is

A vulnerability in the Cisco Discovery Protocol feature of Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to execute arbitrary code with root privileges or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper input validation of specific values that are within a Cisco Discovery Protocol message. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious Cisco Discovery Protocol packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with root privileges or cause the Cisco Discovery Protocol process to crash and restart multiple times, which would cause the affected device to reload, resulting in a DoS condition. Note: Cisco Discovery Protocol is a Layer 2 protocol. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must be in the same broadcast domain as the affected device (Layer 2 adjacent).

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited from the same network segment without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

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

Timeline

1. 2022-08-25 19:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 04:25 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 8.8 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2022-08-25 19:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 04:25 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-121

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Cisco Mds 9506 Firmware
• Cisco Mds 9513 Firmware
• Cisco Mds 9706 Firmware
• Cisco Mds 9710 Firmware
• Cisco Mds 9718 Firmware
• Cisco Nexus 1000v Firmware
• Cisco Nexus 3016 Firmware
• Cisco Nexus 3016q Firmware

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 8.8

Attack vector

Adjacent network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

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-2022-20824.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2022-20824. 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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