CVE-2020-3396

Cisco IOS XE Software IOx Guest Shell USB SSD Namespace Protection Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

HIGH

7.2

CVSS Score

Published: September 24, 2020 at 06:02 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:18 AM UTC

56 products affected across 1 vendorIOS XeAsr 1002-xAsr 1006

Using Cisco IOS XE Software by Cisco?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect Cisco IOS XE Software - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available

Start Free Sign In

Severity

HIGH7.2

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.3%

SSVC

No known exploit

Description

A vulnerability in the file system on the pluggable USB 3.0 Solid State Drive (SSD) for Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, physical attacker to remove the USB 3.0 SSD and modify sensitive areas of the file system, including the namespace container protections. The vulnerability occurs because the USB 3.0 SSD control data is not stored on the internal boot flash. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by removing the USB 3.0 SSD, modifying or deleting files on the USB 3.0 SSD by using another device, and then reinserting the USB 3.0 SSD on the original device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to remove container protections and perform file actions outside the namespace of the container with root privileges.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

IOS Xe · Cisco

95%

16.12.1

cisco-1100-4g-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-1100-4gltegb-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-1100-4gltena-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-1100-6g-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-1100-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-1100-lte-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4321-k9-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4321-k9-rf-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4321-k9-ws-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4331-k9-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4331-k9-rf-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4331-k9-ws-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4351-k9-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4351-k9-rf-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-4351-k9-ws-integrated-services-router (environment) · cisco-asr-1000-x (environment) · cisco-asr-1001 (environment) · cisco-asr-1001-x (environment) · cisco-asr-1002 (environment) · cisco-asr-1002-x (environment) · cisco-asr-1004 (environment) · cisco-asr-1006 (environment) · cisco-asr-1013 (environment) · cisco-asr-1023 (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-24p (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-24s (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-24t (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-24u (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-24ux (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48p (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48s (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48t (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48u (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48un (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300-48uxm (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-24p-4g (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-24p-4x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-24t-4g (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-24t-4x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-48p-4g (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-48p-4x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-48t-4g (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9300l-48t-4x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9404r (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9407r (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9410r (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-12q (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-16x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-24q (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-24y4c (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-32c (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-32qc (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-40x (environment) · cisco-catalyst-c9500-48y4c (environment) · cisco-csr1000v (environment)

1100-4G Integrated Services Router · Ciscodevice

80%

All versions

1100-4Gltegb Integrated Services Router · Ciscodevice

80%

All versions

1100-4Gltena Integrated Services Router · Ciscodevice

80%

All versions

1100-6G Integrated Services Router · Ciscodevice

80%

All versions