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TI-2021-01179 Aliases CVE-2021-1452GHSA-xhfj-h4w3-cwv4

Cisco IOS XE ROM Monitor Software for Cisco Industrial Switches OS Command Injection Vulnerability

Priority LOW 32CWE-78Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Physical
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.

Summary

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.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00385 32nd 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
Total

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
CiscoCisco IOS XE ROMMON Softwareall versions—No fix listedCNA
  • Cisco IOS XE ROMMON Software VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe_rom_monitor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 7.0VulnerableCisco
cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3200_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onCisco
cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3300_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onCisco
cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3400_heavy_duty_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onCisco
cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3400_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onCisco
cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ess_3300:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onCisco
  • cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe_rom_monitor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 7.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
  • cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3200_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
  • cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3300_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
  • cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3400_heavy_duty_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
  • cpe:2.3:h:cisco:catalyst_ie3400_rugged_switch:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
  • cpe:2.3:h:cisco:ess_3300:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1452
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xhfj-h4w3-cwv4

References

  • TI-2020-03070 Cisco IOS XE ROM Monitor Software Vulnerability CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.8
  • TI-2022-05423 Cisco IOS XE ROM Monitor Software for Catalyst Switches Information Disclosure Vulnerability CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.6

Sources