Cisco Content Security Management Appliance, Email Security Appliance, and Web Security…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA), Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA), and Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive information on an affected device. The vulnerability exists because confidential information is included in HTTP requests that are exchanged between the user and the device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by looking at the raw HTTP requests that are sent to the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain some of the passwords that are configured throughout the interface.
Why it matters now
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 · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:content_security_management_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:email_security_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:asyncos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 14.0 | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:13.6.2-023:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.6.2-023 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-090:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.0.0-090 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-133:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.0.0-133 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-292:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.0.0-292 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-300:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.0.0-300 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:content_security_management_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:email_security_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:web_security_appliance:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:asyncos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 14.0 Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:13.6.2-023:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.6.2-023 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-090:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.0.0-090 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-133:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.0.0-133 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-292:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.0.0-292 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:ironport_web_security_appliance:14.0.0-300:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.0.0-300 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1516
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qc7x-2qxv-wrwr
References
More Cisco Content Security Management Appliance vulnerabilities
- TI-2016-01993 The DES and Triple DES ciphers, as used in the TLS, SSH, and IPSec protocols and other… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2014-01669 The End User Safelist/Blocklist (aka SLBL) service in Cisco AsyncOS Software for Email… CVSS 2.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2015-05308 Cisco AsyncOS before 8.5.7-042, 9.x before 9.1.0-032, 9.1.x before 9.1.1-023, and 9.5.x… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2013-04730 The web framework on Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA), Email Security Appliance (ESA)… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2019-01602 Cisco Email Security Appliance and Cisco Content Security Management Appliance Denial of Service Vulnerability CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2020-02726 Cisco ESA, Cisco WSA, and Cisco SMA GUI Denial of Service Vulnerability CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2021-1516 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-1516 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qc7x-2qxv-wrwr · 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