CVE-2021-1441 Cisco IOS XE Software Hardware Initialization Routines Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

Medium 6.7 Published 24 Mar 2021 Updated 8 Nov 2024

An authenticated local attacker with admin credentials can execute unsigned code at boot time by tampering with a diagnostic script, bypassing secure boot verification.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: An administrator
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2021-1441?

CVE-2021-1441 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 24 Mar 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A vulnerability in the hardware initialization routines of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco 1100 Series Industrial Integrated Services Routers and Cisco ESR6300 Embedded Series Routers could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute unsigned code at system boot time. This vulnerability is due to incorrect validations of parameters passed to a diagnostic script that is executed when the device boots up. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by tampering with an executable file stored on a device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute unsigned code at boot time and bypass the software image verification check part of the secure boot process of an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need administrative level credentials (level 15) on the device.

Weakness: CWE-78

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1441?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Cisco Ios Xe.

How do I fix CVE-2021-1441?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1441 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.

Is CVE-2021-1441 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1441 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Cisco Ios Xe vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-75qr-v35g-mjqg.