Command injection in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software
Priority LOW 31CWE-77Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- 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-77.
Summary
A vulnerability in the upgrade process of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject commands that could be executed with root privileges on the underlying operating system (OS). This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading a crafted upgrade package file to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to inject commands that could be executed with root privileges on the underlying OS.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00261 17th 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5.0 to before 6.6.4; 6.7.0 to before 6.7.0.2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.13 to before 9.13.1.21; 9.14 to before 9.14.2.13; 9.15 to before 9.15.1.10 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1010:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1140:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1150:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2110:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2130:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2140:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5.0 to before 6.6.4; 6.7.0 to before 6.7.0.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.13 to before 9.13.1.21; 9.14 to before 9.14.2.13; 9.15 to before 9.15.1.10 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1010:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1140:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_1150:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2110:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2120:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2130:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:firepower_2140:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1488
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wj4x-hm5q-r6w4
References
More Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-14628 Buffer overflow in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2016-05454 Buffer overflow in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software through 9.4.2.3 on… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-06973 Authentication bypass in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-82192 Denial of service in Cisco Secure Firewall ASA and FTD SSL VPN KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2026-16533 Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance and Secure Firewall Threat Defense… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2025-14657 Missing authorization in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
Sources
- CVE-2021-1488 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-1488 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wj4x-hm5q-r6w4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences