CVE-2021-1449

Unsigned boot code execution via unchecked startup file

Published Mar 24, 2021 · Updated Nov 8, 2024

Improper access control in Cisco Aironet Access Point Software allows local users with devshell access to execute unsigned code at boot. Its startup-process logic inadequately checks a specific stored file, so modifying that file bypasses secure-boot software image verification. Exploitation requires customer-authorized devshell access and permits unsigned boot-time code execution on an affected access point.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Cisco Aironet Access Point Software allows local users with devshell access to execute unsigned code at boot. Its startup-process logic inadequately checks a specific stored file, so modifying that file bypasses secure-boot software image verification. Exploitation requires customer-authorized devshell access and permits unsigned boot-time code execution on an affected access point.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1449
Published
Mar 24, 2021
Updated
Nov 8, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Aironet Access Point Software
Classifications
CWE-284, T1542
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 8, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Aironet Access Point Softwareversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.7CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1542Pre-OS Boot

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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