TI-2021-01302 Aliases CVE-2021-1578 GHSA-9fcm-298r-cw5q

Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

MEDIUM 44CWE-636Published 2021-08-25 · 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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

A vulnerability in an API endpoint of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) and Cisco Cloud Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (Cloud APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges to Administrator on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to an improper policy default setting. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using a non-privileged credential for Cisco ACI Multi-Site Orchestrator (MSO) to send a specific API request to a managed Cisco APIC or Cloud APIC device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain Administrator credentials on the affected device.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.01971 80th 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 Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)	all versions	—	No fix listed	CNA

Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 4

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller::::::::	5.0 – 5.1\(3e\)	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller:5.0\(2h\):::::::*	5.0(2h)	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller::::::::	5.0 – 5.1\(3e\)	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller:5.0\(2h\):::::::*	5.0(2h)	Vulnerable	Cisco

cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 – 5.1\(3e\) Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller:5.0\(2h\):*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0(2h) Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 – 5.1\(3e\) Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller:5.0\(2h\):*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0(2h) Vulnerable ·Cisco

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1578
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9fcm-298r-cw5q

References

Advisory 1

20210825 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

TI-2021-01115 Cisco ACI Multi-Site Orchestrator Application Services Engine Deployment Authentication Bypass Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
TI-2021-01120 Cisco Application Services Engine Unauthorized Access Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2021-01123 Cisco Application Services Engine Unauthorized Access Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2021-01301 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Arbitrary File Read and Write Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
TI-2021-01305 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Command Injection and File Upload Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
TI-2021-01303 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller App Privilege Escalation Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8

See all 33 →

Sources

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