Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:NSummary
CVE-2023-20185 is a high-severity Use of Insufficiently Random Values (CWE-330) vulnerability in Cisco Nx-Os. Its CVSS base score is 7.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Forge Web Credentials (T1606); ranked at the 27th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-24364
Vulnerability Data
A vulnerability in the Cisco ACI Multi-Site CloudSec encryption feature of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Fabric Switches in ACI mode could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to read or modify intersite encrypted traffic. This vulnerability is due to an issue…
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with the implementation of the ciphers that are used by the CloudSec encryption feature on affected switches. An attacker with an on-path position between the ACI sites could exploit this vulnerability by intercepting intersite encrypted traffic and using cryptanalytic techniques to break the encryption. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read or modify the traffic that is transmitted between the sites. Cisco has not released and will not release software updates that address this vulnerability.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 22 hardening rules · 7 OS baselines
V11.4.2V14.1.2V14.2.4
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Establishment procedures require selection and generation of keys with adequate length and strength for the chosen algorithm.
Maintaining currency with technologies and practices reduces selection of encryption mechanisms that provide inadequate strength.
Updated assessments identify when previously adequate encryption strength no longer meets current attack capabilities or compliance drivers.
Specifies required cryptography types and parameters, preventing selection of inadequate encryption strength.
Prompt patching corrects inadequate encryption strength when vendors release updates that increase key sizes or algorithm security.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Strong encryption is required to protect confidentiality of data-at-rest.
Strong encryption is required to protect confidentiality of data-in-transit.
Secure SDLC practices directly enforce use of cryptographically strong RNGs and catch insufficient randomness during design, coding, and testing.
Hardened baselines can enforce minimum cryptographic algorithm and key-length settings.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Cryptographic controls require use of approved, sufficiently random values for keys and nonces.
Security testing can detect weak randomness but does not prescribe the control itself.
Secure SDLC processes include verification steps that can catch insufficient randomness but do not directly specify RNG requirements.
Secure coding standards explicitly prohibit use of weak or predictable random number generators.
Secure authentication mechanisms depend on unpredictable values (nonces, salts, session tokens) to resist guessing.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (3 rules)
- V-248563 The OL 8 SSH server must be configured to use strong entropy. prevents CWE-330
- V-248599 OL 8 must enable the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service. prevents CWE-330
- V-248600 OL 8 must have the packages required to use the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service. prevents CWE-330
Oracle Linux 9 (2 rules)
- V-271511 OL 9 must enable the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service. prevents CWE-330
- V-271756 OL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
RHEL 8 (4 rules)
- V-230224 All RHEL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
- V-244527 RHEL 8 must have the packages required to use the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service. prevents CWE-330
- V-230253 RHEL 8 must ensure the SSH server uses strong entropy. prevents CWE-330
RHEL 9 (2 rules)
- V-257782 RHEL 9 must enable the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service. prevents CWE-330
- V-257879 RHEL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
Windows Server 2016 (1 rule)
- V-224843 Systems requiring data at rest protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. prevents CWE-326