# CVE-2021-1448: Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software Command Injection Vulnerability

> Authenticated local attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on Cisco FTD devices running in multi-instance mode.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 8 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9448-xggx-x86q

## What is CVE-2021-1448?

CVE-2021-1448 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense, published on 29 Apr 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 CLI of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system of an affected device that is running in multi-instance mode. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted input to the affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1448?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1448?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1448 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-1448 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense

- [CVE-2024-20412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20412/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2024-20330](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20330/): Memory corruption in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2024-20339](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20339/): Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software for Firepower 2100 Series TLS Denial of Service Vulnerability (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2024-20351](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20351/): Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software Snort Firewall Denial of Service Vulnerability (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2023-20083](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20083/): Denial of service in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-1448 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1448 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense, published on 29 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense. 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-2021-1448/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1448/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1448
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1448
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1448

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1448/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.