Summary

• A vulnerability with the Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Layer 2 ingress packet processing of Cisco Nexus 3600 Platform Switches and Cisco Nexus 9500-R Series Switching Platforms could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to trigger a Layer 2 traffic loop.

  This vulnerability is due to a logic error when processing a crafted Layer 2 ingress frame. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a stream of crafted Ethernet frames through the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a Layer 2 Virtual eXtensible LAN (VxLAN) traffic loop, which, in turn, could result in a denial of service (DoS) condition. This Layer 2 loop could oversubscribe the bandwidth on network interfaces, which would result in all data plane traffic being dropped. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must be Layer 2-adjacent to the affected device.

  Note: To stop active exploitation of this vulnerability, manual intervention is required to both stop the crafted traffic and flap all involved network interfaces. For additional assistance if a Layer 2 loop that is related to this vulnerability is suspected, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or the proper support provider.

  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-ether-dos-Kv8YNWZ4

  This advisory is part of the February 2026 Cisco FXOS and NX-OS Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: February 2026 Semiannual Cisco FXOS and NX-OS Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication.

Affected Products

• Vulnerable Products

  This vulnerability affects only the following Cisco Nexus 3600 and 9500-R Switching Platform product identifiers (PIDs) if they are running a vulnerable release of Cisco NX-OS Software and have EVPN configured:

  • N3K-C36180YC-R
  • N3K-C3636C-R
  • N9K-X96136YC-R
  • N9K-X9636C-R
  • N9K-X9636C-RX
  • N9K-X9636Q-R

  Note: The N9K-X9624D-R2 PID is not affected by this vulnerability.

  For information about which Cisco software releases are vulnerable, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory.

  Determine Which PIDs Are Installed

  To view which PIDs are installed, use the show inventory CLI command:

  9K-A# show inventory 
  NAME: "Chassis",  DESCR: "Nexus9500 C9508 (8 Slot) Chassis"      
  PID: N85-C8508           ,  VID: V02 ,  SN: FGE19270WQ4             
  
  NNAME: "Slot 1",  DESCR: "16x10G + 32x10/25G + 4x100G Module"    
  PID: N9K-X96136YC-R      ,  VID: V01 ,  SN: JAE222808LK       
  
  NAME: "Slot 2",  DESCR: "36p 100G Ethernet Module"              
  PID: N9K-X9636C-RX       ,  VID: V00 ,  SN: JAE211803N0 
  .
  .
  .

  Determine the EVPN Configuration

  To determine whether EVPN is configured, use the show running-config | include nv overlay evpn CLI command. If this command exists in the device configuration, the device is considered vulnerable, as shown in the following example:

  n9K# show running-config | include "nv overlay evpn"
  nv overlay evpn

  
  

  Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

  Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

  Cisco has confirmed that this vulnerability does not affect the following Cisco products:

  • Firepower 1000 Series
  • Firepower 2100 Series
  • Firepower 4100 Series
  • Firepower 9300 Security Appliances
  • MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches
  • Nexus 3000 Series Switches, other than the models listed in the Vulnerable Products section
  • Nexus 5500 Platform Switches
  • Nexus 5600 Platform Switches
  • Nexus 6000 Series Switches
  • Nexus 7000 Series Switches
  • Nexus 9000 Series Fabric Switches in ACI mode
  • Nexus 9000 Series Switches, other than the models listed in the Vulnerable Products section
  • Secure Firewall 200 Series
  • Secure Firewall 1200 Series
  • Secure Firewall 3100 Series
  • Secure Firewall 4200 Series
  • Secure Firewall 6100 Series
  • UCS 6300 Series Fabric Interconnects
  • UCS 6400 Series Fabric Interconnects
  • UCS 6500 Series Fabric Interconnects
  • UCS 6600 Series Fabric Interconnects
  • UCS X-Series Direct Fabric Interconnects 9108 100G

Workarounds

• There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Fixed Software

• Cisco considers any workarounds and mitigations (if applicable) to be temporary solutions until an upgrade to a fixed software release is available. To fully remediate this vulnerability and avoid future exposure as described in this advisory, Cisco strongly recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software indicated in this advisory.

  Cisco NX-OS Software

  To help customers determine their exposure to vulnerabilities in Cisco NX-OS Software, Cisco provides the Cisco Software Checker. This tool identifies any Cisco security advisories that impact a specific software release and the earliest release that fixes the vulnerabilities that are described in each advisory (“First Fixed”). If applicable, the tool also returns the earliest release that fixes all the vulnerabilities described in all the advisories that the Software Checker identifies (“Combined First Fixed”).

  To use the tool, go to the Cisco Software Checker page and follow the instructions. Alternatively, use the following form to search for vulnerabilities that affect a specific software release. To use the form, follow these steps:

  1. Choose which advisories the tool will search-only this advisory, only advisories with a Critical or High Security Impact Rating (SIR), or all advisories.
  2. Choose the appropriate software.
  3. Choose the appropriate platform.
  4. Enter a release number-for example, 10.4(4) for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches or 16.0(8e) for Cisco NX-OS Software in ACI mode.
  5. Click Check.

  
  

  Only this advisory All Critical and High advisories All advisories Cisco NX-OS Software Cisco NX-OS Software in ACI Mode Any Platform MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches Nexus 3000 Series Switches Nexus 5000 Series Switches Nexus 6000 Series Switches Nexus 7000 Series Switches Nexus 9000 Series Switches

  
  

  Additional Resources

  For help determining the best Cisco NX-OS Software release for a Cisco Nexus Switch, see the following Recommended Releases documents. If a security advisory recommends a later release, Cisco recommends following the advisory guidance.

  Cisco MDS Series Switches
  Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches
  Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform Switches
  Cisco Nexus 5600 Platform Switches
  Cisco Nexus 6000 Series Switches
  Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches
  Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches
  Cisco Nexus 9000 Series ACI-Mode Switches

  To determine the best release for Cisco UCS Software, see the Recommended Releases documents in the release notes for the device.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

• The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Source

• This vulnerability was found during the resolution of a Cisco TAC support case.

URL

• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nxos-ether-dos-Kv8YNWZ4

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Status	Date
  1.0	Initial public release.	-	Final	2026-FEB-25

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