CVE-2021-1480Public exploit

Root privilege escalation via file transfer requests

Published Apr 8, 2021 · Updated Nov 8, 2024

Improper input validation in affected Cisco SD-WAN vManage releases allows local users to overwrite files and gain root access. System file transfer functions accept crafted local requests without adequately validating attacker-controlled input, enabling arbitrary file overwrite. Authenticated local access is required; overwritten system files can modify the appliance and elevate the account to root.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.79%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in affected Cisco SD-WAN vManage releases allows local users to overwrite files and gain root access. System file transfer functions accept crafted local requests without adequately validating attacker-controlled input, enabling arbitrary file overwrite. Authenticated local access is required; overwritten system files can modify the appliance and elevate the account to root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1480
Published
Apr 8, 2021
Updated
Nov 8, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco SD-WAN
Classifications
CWE-119, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 8, 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco SD-WANversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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