Cisco NX-OS Software Python Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the Python interpreter of Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with low privileges to escape the Python sandbox and gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input.

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating specific functions within the Python interpreter. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to escape the Python sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the authenticated user. Note: An attacker must be authenticated with Python execution privileges to exploit this vulnerability.

For more information regarding Python execution privileges, see product-specific documentation, such as the Cisco NX-OS Security with Python section of the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Programmability Guide. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

This advisory is available at the following link: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nxos-mppe-dhKZAFgb This advisory is part of a group of advisories. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Advance Notification for Publication of October 7, 2026, Security Advisories.

For further documentation of improvements and fixes in Cisco NX-OS Software, see Cisco NX-OS Software Security Hardening Release: October 2026. Security Impact Rating: Medium CVE: CVE-2026-20032