CVE-2025-20344 is a path traversal vulnerability found in the backup restore functionality of Cisco Nexus Dashboard. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of the contents within a backup file. An attacker with valid Administrator credentials can exploit this flaw by restoring a specially crafted backup file to the affected device. The path traversal allows the attacker to escape the intended restricted directory boundaries, potentially overwriting or accessing arbitrary files on the underlying system. Successful exploitation grants the attacker root-level privileges on the device's underlying shell, effectively compromising the entire system. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Cisco Nexus Dashboard versions, spanning from early 1.1 releases through multiple 2.x and 3.x versions up to 4.0(1i). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, high privileges required (Administrator), no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality and integrity but no impact on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is critical in environments where Cisco Nexus Dashboard is used for network management, as root access can lead to full control over network infrastructure components managed by the device.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Cisco Nexus Dashboard in enterprise and service provider networks for managing data center and cloud infrastructure. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain root access, enabling them to manipulate network configurations, intercept or redirect traffic, and disrupt critical services. The compromise of network management infrastructure can lead to cascading effects on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and services. Given the high reliance on Cisco networking equipment across European financial institutions, government agencies, and large enterprises, the impact could be severe, including regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), financial loss, reputational damage, and operational disruption. The requirement for administrator credentials limits the attack surface but insider threats or credential theft scenarios increase the risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but organizations should act proactively to prevent potential targeted attacks.

1. Immediately apply any available patches or updates from Cisco for the affected Nexus Dashboard versions. If patches are not yet available, consider upgrading to unaffected versions once released. 2. Restrict and monitor administrative access to the Nexus Dashboard, enforcing strong multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Implement strict validation and integrity checks on backup files before restoration, including cryptographic signatures or hashes to ensure authenticity and integrity. 4. Monitor logs and audit trails for unusual backup restore activities or attempts to upload unexpected backup files. 5. Segment the network to isolate management interfaces of Nexus Dashboard from general user networks and limit exposure to only trusted administrators. 6. Conduct regular security awareness training for administrators to recognize phishing or social engineering attempts that could lead to credential theft. 7. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on management hosts to detect suspicious shell or root-level activities. 8. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential compromise of network management infrastructure to enable rapid containment and recovery.