# CVE-2021-1265: Cisco DNA Center Information Disclosure Vulnerability

> Authenticated attackers can retrieve unmasked running configurations of managed devices via API calls due to clear-text storage in Cisco DNA Center.

- **Severity:** High 7.7 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 12 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-32x3-2qh2-v3w9

## What is CVE-2021-1265?

CVE-2021-1265 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center), published on 20 Jan 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the configuration archive functionality of Cisco DNA Center could allow any privilege-level authenticated, remote attacker to obtain the full unmasked running configuration of managed devices. The vulnerability is due to the configuration archives files being stored in clear text, which can be retrieved by various API calls. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and executing a series of API calls. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to retrieve the full unmasked running configurations of managed devices.

Weakness: CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1265?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Catalyst Center.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1265?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1265 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-1265 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1265 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center)

- [CVE-2021-1264](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1264/): Cisco DNA Center Command Runner Command Injection Vulnerability (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2023-20055](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20055/): Cisco DNA Center Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2026-20191](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20191/): Cisco Catalyst Center Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-20350](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20350/): Cisco Catalyst Center Static SSH Host Key Vulnerability (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-3411](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3411/): Cisco DNA Center Information Disclosure Vulnerability (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-1265 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1265 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center), published on 20 Jan 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1265 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1265/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1265/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1265
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1265
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1265

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1265/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.