---
id: CVE-2026-20174
title: "A vulnerability in the Metadata update feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system.\r\n\r\nThis vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of the…"
summary: "A vulnerability in the Metadata update feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system.\r\n\r\nThis vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of the…"
severity: medium
cvss: 4.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-22
vendor: cisco
product: nexus_dashboard_insights
affected:
  - nexus_dashboard_insights <= 6.5.0
  - 'nexus_dashboard >= 3.1\(1k\), < 4.2.1'
patched:
  - nexus_dashboard 4.2.1
published: '2026-04-01'
updated: '2026-07-01'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20174'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ndi-afw-rJuRC5dZ
    label: psirt@cisco.com
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00489
epssPercentile: 0.41183
ingestedAt: '2026-07-01T15:50:58.754Z'
---

## Overview

A vulnerability in the Metadata update feature of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of the metadata update file. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a metadata update file and manually uploading it to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to write arbitrary files to the underlying operating system as the&nbsp;root user. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials.
Note: Manual uploading of metadata files is typical for Air-Gap environments but not for Cisco Intersight Cloud connected devices. However, the manual upload option exists for both deployments.

## Affected

- `nexus_dashboard_insights <= 6.5.0`
- `nexus_dashboard >= 3.1\(1k\), < 4.2.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `nexus_dashboard 4.2.1`