TI-2021-01303 Aliases CVE-2021-1579 GHSA-246h-5xw7-rvcg

Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller App Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

MEDIUM 42CWE-250Published 2021-08-25 · Updated 2024-11-07

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-250.

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 with Administrator read-only credentials to elevate privileges on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to an insufficient role-based access control (RBAC). An attacker with Administrator read-only credentials could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specific API request using an app with admin write credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to elevate privileges to Administrator with write privileges on the affected device.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.02125 82nd 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 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 · 2

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller::::::::	before 3.2\(10f\); 4.0 to before 4.2\(7l\); 5.0 to before 5.2\(2f\)	Vulnerable	Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller::::::::	before 3.2\(10f\); 4.0 to before 4.2\(7l\); 5.0 to before 5.2\(2f\)	Vulnerable	Cisco

cpe:2.3:a:cisco:application_policy_infrastructure_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.2\(10f\); 4.0 to before 4.2\(7l\); 5.0 to before 5.2\(2f\) Vulnerable ·Cisco
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_application_policy_infrastructure_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.2\(10f\); 4.0 to before 4.2\(7l\); 5.0 to before 5.2\(2f\) Vulnerable ·Cisco

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1579
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-246h-5xw7-rvcg

References

Patch 1

20210825 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller App 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-2021-01302 Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller 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