Cisco Nexus Dashboard up to 4.1(1g) Configuration Backup certificate validation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Cisco Nexus Dashboard. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Configuration Backup Handler. The manipulation results in certificate validation. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-20042. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Cisco Nexus Dashboard. Affected is some unknown functionality of the component Configuration Backup Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a certificate validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-295. The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A vulnerability in the configuration backup feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard could allow an attacker who has the encryption password and access to Full or Config-only backup files to access sensitive information. This vulnerability exists because authentication details are included in the encrypted backup files. An attacker with a valid backup file and encryption password from an affected device could decrypt the backup file. The attacker could then use the authentication details in the backup file to access internal-only APIs on the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user.

The advisory is shared for download at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-20042 since 10/08/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 04/04/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1587.003.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 304810 (Cisco Nexus Dashboard Configuration Backup REST API Unauthorized Access (cisco-sa-nd-cbid-5YqkOSHu)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (304810) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0955). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Cisco Nexus Dashboard

Productinfo

Type

• Forum Software

Vendor

• Cisco

Name

• Nexus Dashboard

Version

• 1.1(0c)
• 1.1(0d)
• 1.1(2h)
• 1.1(2i)
• 1.1(3c)
• 1.1(3d)
• 1.1(3e)
• 1.1(3f)
• 2.0(1b)
• 2.0(1d)
• 2.0(2g)
• 2.0(2h)
• 2.1(1d)
• 2.1(1e)
• 2.1(2d)
• 2.1(2f)
• 2.2(1e)
• 2.2(1h)
• 2.2(2d)
• 2.3(1c)
• 2.3(2b)
• 2.3(2c)
• 2.3(2d)
• 2.3(2e)
• 3.0(1f)
• 3.0(1i)
• 3.1(1k)
• 3.1(1l)
• 3.1(1n)
• 3.2(1e)
• 3.2(1i)
• 3.2(2f)
• 3.2(2g)
• 3.2(2m)
• 3.3(1a)
• 3.3(1b)
• 3.3(2b)
• 3.3(2g)
• 4.0(1i)
• 4.1(1g)

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.cisco.com/

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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