CVE-2021-1452

highpriority · track · 27EPSS 0.004 · 32 %ileEURUUS
grimoire priorityP2 · Scheduled
Exploitable?
—
no known exploitation
Likely / severe?
0.39% (32nd) EPSS
CVSS 7.2 · high
Is it mine?
14 products
Check your exposure
Who says so?
6 sources
cnnvd · enisa_euvd · fstec_bdu · cisa_csaf_ot

EPSS · scored 2026-10-27

A vulnerability in the ROM Monitor (ROMMON) of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst IE3200, IE3300, and IE3400 Rugged Series Switches, Cisco Catalyst IE3400 Heavy Duty Series Switches, and Cisco Embedded Services 3300 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, physical attacker to execute unsigned code at system boot time. This vulnerability is due to incorrect validations of specific function arguments passed to a boot script when specific ROMMON variables are set. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by setting malicious values for a specific ROMMON variable. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute unsigned code and bypass the image verification check during the secure boot process of an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need to have unauthenticated, physical access to the device or obtain privileged access to the root shell on the device.

01

remediations

Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.

A vendor fix is available.

  • FixedCisco IOS XE ROMMON Softwarecisco_csaf

    Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.

    https://software.cisco.com
  • FixedStratix 5400cisa_csaf_ot

    Stratix 5800: Apply Version 17.04.01 or later. If possible, disable DECnet protocol completely or on select interfaces.

  • FixedStratix 5410cisa_csaf_ot

    Stratix 5800: Apply Version 17.04.01 or later. If possible, disable DECnet protocol completely or on select interfaces.

  • FixedStratix 5700cisa_csaf_ot

    Stratix 5800: Apply Version 17.04.01 or later. If possible, disable DECnet protocol completely or on select interfaces.

  • FixedStratix 5800cisa_csaf_ot

    Stratix 5800: Apply Version 17.04.01 or later. If possible, disable DECnet protocol completely or on select interfaces.

  • FixedStratix 8000cisa_csaf_ot

    Stratix 5800: Apply Version 17.04.01 or later. If possible, disable DECnet protocol completely or on select interfaces.

  • MitigationStratix 5400cisa_csaf_ot

    All versions, including Stratix 8000, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5410, Stratix 5400: Confirm the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user account access to is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

  • MitigationStratix 5410cisa_csaf_ot

    All versions, including Stratix 8000, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5410, Stratix 5400: Confirm the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user account access to is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

  • MitigationStratix 5700cisa_csaf_ot

    All versions, including Stratix 8000, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5410, Stratix 5400: Confirm the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user account access to is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

  • MitigationStratix 5800cisa_csaf_ot

    All versions, including Stratix 8000, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5410, Stratix 5400: Confirm the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user account access to is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

  • MitigationStratix 8000cisa_csaf_ot

    All versions, including Stratix 8000, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5410, Stratix 5400: Confirm the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user account access to is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

02

cvss

Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.

7.2
010

base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.2–7.2

v2.07.2highAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:Cprimary · NVD / NIST USexploitability 3.9 · impact 10
v3.16.8mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hprimary · NVD / NIST USexploitability 0.9 · impact 5.9
v3.07highCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · CISA US
v3.16.8mediumAV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · FSTEC (BDU) RU
v3.16.8mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · ENISA EU
v3.16.8mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · psirt@cisco.com USexploitability 0.9 · impact 5.9
v3.16.2mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:Usecondary · CVSS-BT (t0sche)
v3.16.8mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · Cisco PSIRT US
03

ssvc

A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.

Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical Impact: totalcoordinatorcisa_ssvcUS
04

weaknesses

The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.

CWE-78USCWE-78USCWE-78US
05

affected products (14)

Products and version ranges known to be affected.

06

advisories (2)

Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.

  • cisco-sa-iosxe-romvar-cmd-inj-N56fYbrwCisco IOS XE ROM Monitor Software for Cisco Industrial Switches OS Command Injection Vulnerability2021-03-24csaf · cisco_csafUS

    A vulnerability in the ROM Monitor (ROMMON) of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst IE3200, IE3300, and IE3400 Rugged Series Switches, Cisco Catalyst IE3400 Heavy Duty Series Switches, and Cisco Embedded Services 3300 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, physical attacker to execute unsigned code at system boot time. This vulnerability is due to incorrect validations of specific function arguments passed to a boot script when specific ROMMON variables are set. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by setting malicious values for a specific ROMMON variable. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute unsigned code and bypass the image verification check during the secure boot process of an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need to have unauthenticated, physical access to the device or obtain privileged access to the root shell on the device. 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-iosxe-romvar-cmd-inj-N56fYbrw ["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-romvar-cmd-inj-N56fYbrw"]

  • ICSA-21-110-02ICSA-21-110-02_Rockwell Automation Stratix Switches2021-04-20icsa · cisa_csaf_otUS

    Cisco reported these vulnerabilities to Rockwell Automation.

07

also known as (4)

Other names and identifiers for this entity.

08

sources

Which sources assert this record, and when.

cnnvdenisa_euvdfstec_bducisa_csaf_otcisco_csafnvdNVDCVE.orgMITRE
published 2021-03-24modified 2026-06-17
09

references (6)

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.

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