CVE-2021-1488

Root command execution via crafted upgrade package

Published Apr 29, 2021 · Updated Nov 8, 2024

Command injection in the upgrade process of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software allows local users to execute commands as root. The upgrade process insufficiently validates a crafted package file, allowing its attacker-controlled content to be interpreted as operating-system commands. Exploitation requires high-privilege local access to upload an upgrade package on a Firepower 1000 or 2100 Series appliance, and successful commands run with root privileges.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in the upgrade process of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software allows local users to execute commands as root. The upgrade process insufficiently validates a crafted package file, allowing its attacker-controlled content to be interpreted as operating-system commands. Exploitation requires high-privilege local access to upload an upgrade package on a Firepower 1000 or 2100 Series appliance, and successful commands run with root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1488
Published
Apr 29, 2021
Updated
Nov 8, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 29, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Softwareversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

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-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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