CVE-2026-76453 in NX-OS Software
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco NX-OS engineering team has conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening release that addresses multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities.
The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-76453 are related to improper neutralization issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) CWE-707.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
Cisco has released a software hardening update for NX-OS following an internal security review aimed at addressing multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. Among these, CVE-2026-76453 is specifically identified as stemming from improper neutralization issues categorized under CWE-707 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This classification indicates that the vulnerability arises when software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it, which can lead to unexpected behavior or security breaches depending on how the unneutralized data interacts with downstream systems or commands.
The technical flaw associated with CVE-2026-76453 centers on a lack of adequate sanitization mechanisms within specific NX-OS components. In network operating systems like Cisco NX-OS, input validation is critical because these platforms often handle configuration changes and administrative commands that have direct impacts on network infrastructure integrity. When neutralization fails, malicious or malformed inputs may bypass expected constraints, potentially allowing an attacker to inject unintended instructions or alter system behavior in ways not anticipated by the original design. This type of weakness is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated scripts or external management tools might interact with the device interfaces without rigorous validation checks at every entry point.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily when triggered through specific administrative interfaces or APIs that accept user-supplied data. If exploited successfully, it could lead to configuration drift, service disruption, or in more severe scenarios, unauthorized access if the improper neutralization allows for command injection or privilege escalation pathways. The impact is contingent upon the attack vector and whether the vulnerable component requires authentication. However, given its classification under CWE-707, the core issue remains a failure in input handling logic rather than a complex exploitation chain involving memory corruption or cryptographic failures.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running affected versions of Cisco NX-OS should apply the recommended software hardening release immediately upon availability. It is also advisable to review access control policies and ensure that administrative interfaces are restricted to trusted management networks only. Implementing strict input validation at application boundaries where possible can further reduce exposure. Additionally, monitoring logs for unusual configuration changes or unexpected system behavior may help detect potential exploitation attempts early. Keeping systems updated with the latest security patches remains the most effective defense against such internally discovered weaknesses in network operating software.