TI-2021-01086 Aliases CVE-2021-1359 GHSA-9x2v-q9rg-r4cc

Cisco Web Security Appliance Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

MEDIUM 42CWE-112Published 2021-07-08 · Updated 2024-11-07

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: —
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · High
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

A vulnerability in the configuration management of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform command injection and elevate privileges to root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied XML input for the web interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading crafted XML configuration files that contain scripting code to a vulnerable device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system and elevate privileges to root. An attacker would need a valid user account with the rights to upload configuration files to exploit this vulnerability.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.01879 79th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: No
Technical impact: Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
Cisco	Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA)	all versions	—	No fix listed	CNA

Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:11.8.0-429:::::::*	11.8.0-429	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:11.8.0-453:::::::*	11.8.0-453	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:asyncos::::::::	11.8.0 to before 12.0.3-005; 12.5.0 to before 12.5.2	Vulnerable	Cisco

cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:11.8.0-429:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.8.0-429 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:11.8.0-453:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.8.0-453 Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:asyncos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.8.0 to before 12.0.3-005; 12.5.0 to before 12.5.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1359
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9x2v-q9rg-r4cc

References

Advisory 1

20210707 Cisco Web Security Appliance Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

TI-2026-74174 Arbitrary file write in Cisco Secure Email Gateway via AMP feature KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2026-53489 Cisco Secure Email Gateway SQL Injection Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2025-14683 Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager Remote Command Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
TI-2021-13698 Cisco Web Security Appliance Proxy Service Denial of Service Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
TI-2018-11020 Cisco Email Security Appliance URL Filtering Denial of Service Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
TI-2019-01567 Cisco Email Security Appliance Denial of Service Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6

See all 55 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences