# CVE-2021-1516: Information disclosure in Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA)

> Authenticated attackers can view sensitive passwords in HTTP requests on Cisco security appliances, exposing credentials to those with network access.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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:** 6 May 2021
- **Updated:** 8 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qc7x-2qxv-wrwr

## What is CVE-2021-1516?

CVE-2021-1516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Email Security Appliance, published on 6 May 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA), Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA), and Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive information on an affected device. The vulnerability exists because confidential information is included in HTTP requests that are exchanged between the user and the device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by looking at the raw HTTP requests that are sent to the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain some of the passwords that are configured throughout the interface.

Weakness: CWE-540 (Inclusion of Sensitive Information in Source Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1516?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Cisco Content Security Management Appliance, Cisco Email Security Appliance, Cisco Ironport Web Security Appliance, Cisco Web Security Appliance.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1516?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-1516 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1516 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Email Security Appliance

- [CVE-2014-2119](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2119/): File upload in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2015-6321](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6321/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2013-5537](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-5537/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-2183](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2183/): Weak cryptography in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2013-3395](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3395/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-1516 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Email Security Appliance, published on 6 May 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-2021-1516 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Email Security Appliance. 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-2021-1516/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1516/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1516
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1516
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1516

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1516/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.