CVE-2021-1572
mediumpriority · track · 31EPSS 0.002 · 14 %ileDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
A vulnerability in ConfD could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands at the level of the account under which ConfD is running, which is commonly root. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have a valid account on an affected device. The vulnerability exists because the affected software incorrectly runs the SFTP user service at the privilege level of the account that was running when the ConfD built-in Secure Shell (SSH) server for CLI was enabled. If the ConfD built-in SSH server was not enabled, the device is not affected by this vulnerability. An attacker with low-level privileges could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected device and issuing a series of commands at the SFTP interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to the level of the account under which ConfD is running, which is commonly root. Note: Any user who can authenticate to the built-in SSH server may exploit this vulnerability. By default, all ConfD users have this access if the server is enabled. Software updates that address this vulnerability have been released.
remediations
Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.
A vendor fix is available.
- FixedCisco ConfDcisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco ConfD Basiccisco_csaf
Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability.
https://software.cisco.com - FixedCisco Network Services Orchestratorcisco_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 · 6.9–7.8
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (10)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- cisco network services orchestrator5.4 → 5.4.3.1nvdUScpe:2.3:a:cisco:network_services_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cisco network services orchestrator5.5 → 5.5.2.2nvdUScpe:2.3:a:cisco:network_services_orchestrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
advisories (3)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2023-2567Cisco Network Services Orchestrator: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit AdministratorrechtenDeutsch2023-10-04csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein lokaler Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in Cisco Network Services Orchestrator ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode mit Administratorrechten auszuführen.
- cisco-sa-confd-priv-esc-LsGtCRx4ConfD CLI Secure Shell Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability2021-08-04csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in ConfD could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands at the level of the account under which ConfD is running, which is commonly root. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have a valid account on the affected device. The vulnerability exists because the affected software incorrectly runs the SFTP user service at the privilege level of the account that was running when the ConfD built-in Secure Shell (SSH) server for CLI was enabled. If the ConfD built-in SSH server was not enabled, the device is not affected by this vulnerability. An attacker with low-level privileges could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected device and issuing a series of commands at the SFTP interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to the level of the account under which ConfD is running, which is commonly root. Note: Any user who can authenticate to the built-in SSH server may exploit this vulnerability. By default, all ConfD users have this access if the server is enabled. Software updates that address this vulnerability have been released. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
- cisco-sa-nso-priv-esc-XXqRtTfTCisco Network Services Orchestrator CLI Secure Shell Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability2021-08-04csaf · cisco_csafUS
A vulnerability in Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands at the level of the account under which Cisco NSO is running, which is root by default. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have a valid account on an affected device. The vulnerability exists because the affected software incorrectly runs the SFTP user service at the privilege level of the account that was running when the NSO built-in Secure Shell (SSH) server for CLI was enabled. If the NSO built-in SSH server was not enabled, the device is not affected by this vulnerability. An attacker with low-level privileges could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected device and issuing a series of commands at the SFTP interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to the level of the account under which Cisco NSO is running, which is root by default. Note: Any user who can authenticate to the built-in SSH server may exploit this vulnerability. By default, all Cisco NSO users have this access if the server is enabled. 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 (8)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-confd-priv-esc-LsGtCRx4cnnvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nso-priv-esc-XXqRtTfTcnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2021.2631cnnvd
- https://www.cybersecurity-help.cz/vdb/SB2021080516cnnvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-confd-priv-esc-LsGtCRx4enisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nso-priv-esc-XXqRtTfTenisa_euvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-confd-priv-esc-LsGtCRx4Vendor Advisorynvd
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-nso-priv-esc-XXqRtTfTVendor Advisorynvd
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