Content Security Management Appliance
CVE-2021-1447
MEDIUM
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 6.7 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local attacker with access to the system could escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
A vulnerability in the user account management system of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate their privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.7), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply principle of least privilege, validate privilege transitions, implement proper role separation.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269), which allows attackers to escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access. A vulnerability in the user account management system of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate their privileges to root. This vulnerability is due to a procedural flaw in the password generation algorithm. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by enabling specific Administrator-only features and connecting to the appliance through the CLI with elevated privileges. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root and access the underlying operating system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid Administrator credentials. Affected products include: Cisco Content Security Management Appliance.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
A vulnerability in the user account management system of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate their privileges to root. This vulnerability is due to a procedural flaw in the password generation algorithm. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by enabling specific Administrator-only features and connecting to the appliance through the CLI with elevated privileges. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root and access the underlying operating system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid Administrator credentials.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
The DES and Triple DES ciphers, as used in the TLS, SSH, and IPSec protocols and other protocols and products, have a bi
The End User Safelist/Blocklist (aka SLBL) service in Cisco AsyncOS Software for Email Security Appliance (ESA) before 7
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web management interface in Cisco AsyncOS on the Email Security Applianc
The web framework in Cisco AsyncOS on Email Security Appliance (ESA), Content Security Management Appliance (SMA), and W
Cisco AsyncOS before 8.5.7-042, 9.x before 9.1.0-032, 9.1.x before 9.1.1-023, and 9.5.x and 9.6.x before 9.6.0-042 on Em
The web framework on Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA), Email Security Appliance (ESA), and Content Security Management
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the web framework on Cisco IronPort Web Security Appliance (WSA) devi
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Ap
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA) and Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Content
A vulnerability in the spam quarantine of Cisco Email Security Appliance and Cisco Content Security Management Appliance
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA) and Cisco Content Security
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based GUI of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB