CVE-2024-20338

HIGH
Published Mar 6, 2024 Modified Jul 22, 2025 CWE-427

Description

A vulnerability in the ISE Posture (System Scan) module of Cisco Secure Client for Linux could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to the use of an uncontrolled search path element. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a malicious library file to a specific directory in the filesystem and persuading an administrator to restart a specific process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with root privileges.

Is your site exposed to CVE-2024-20338?

Run a free security scan — no signup, results in seconds.

CVSS v3.1 Score

7.3
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-427 CWE-427

Affected Products

Vendor Product
cisco secure_client
linux linux_kernel

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-20338? +
A vulnerability in the ISE Posture (System Scan) module of Cisco Secure Client for Linux could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to the use of an uncontrolled search path element. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a malicious library file to a specific directory in the filesystem and persuading an administrator to restart a specific process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with root privileges. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2024-20338? +
CVE-2024-20338 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-20338? +
CVE-2024-20338 affects products from cisco, linux, specifically: linux_kernel, secure_client. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.
How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2024-20338? +
You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

Related Vulnerabilities

Don't wait for an exploit

Scan your website for vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-20338 — free, no signup required.