CVE-2021-1584Public exploit

Root access via hal_collector_tool command injection

Published Aug 25, 2021 · Updated Nov 7, 2024

Command injection in Cisco NX-OS Software in ACI mode allows local users with administrative privileges to gain root access. The hal_collector_tool builds a Python command from a supplied JSON hal_object value and passes it to os.system without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Administrative SSH access is required; successful injection escapes the restricted ACI container and executes commands on the underlying switch OS as root.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.45%
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 Cisco NX-OS Software in ACI mode allows local users with administrative privileges to gain root access. The hal_collector_tool builds a Python command from a supplied JSON hal_object value and passes it to os.system without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Administrative SSH access is required; successful injection escapes the restricted ACI container and executes commands on the underlying switch OS as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1584
Published
Aug 25, 2021
Updated
Nov 7, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco NX-OS System Software in ACI Mode
Classifications
CWE-78, T1068, T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 25, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 7, 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 NX-OS System Software in ACI Modeversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.0CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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