CVE-2021-1447
highpriority · track · 27EPSS 0.003 · 20 %ileEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
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.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco Secure Email and Web Managercisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.1–7.2
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (6)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- cisco content security management appliance< 12.8.1-002nvdUScpe:2.3:a:cisco:content_security_management_appliance:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cisco content security management appliance13.0.0-249 → 13.8.1-068nvdUScpe:2.3:a:cisco:content_security_management_appliance:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- cisco-sa-sma-priv-esc-JJ8zxQsCCisco Content Security Management Appliance Privilege Escalation Vulnerability2021-05-05csaf · cisco_csafUS
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. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
also known as (4)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sma-priv-esc-JJ8zxQsCcnnvd
- https://vigilance.fr/vulnerability/Cisco-Content-Security-Management-Appliance-privilege-escalation-35264cnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2021.1551cnnvd
- https://www.cybersecurity-help.cz/vdb/SB2021050612cnnvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sma-priv-esc-JJ8zxQsCenisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sma-priv-esc-JJ8zxQsCVendor Advisorynvd
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