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CVE-2021-1384: Cisco IOx for IOS XE Software Command Injection Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.2 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 35.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: yes
• Published: 2021-03-24 · updated 2026-06-17
• Weakness: CWE-77

Description

A vulnerability in Cisco IOx application hosting environment of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject commands into the underlying operating system as the root user. This vulnerability is due to incomplete validation of fields in the application packages loaded onto IOx. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a crafted application .tar file and loading it onto the device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform command injection into the underlying operating system as the root user.

Affected products

• Cisco IOS XE: before 16.6.9; from 16.9.0 before 16.9.7; from 17.3.2 before 17.3.3; from 17.4.0 before 17.4.2; 17.5.0 — fixed in 16.6.9, 16.9.7, 17.3.3, 17.4.2

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Cisco IOS XE 16.6.9, 16.9.7, 17.3.3, 17.4.2. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://github.com/orangecertcc/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-h332-fj6p-2232
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iox-cmdinj-RkSURGHG
• https://github.com/orangecertcc/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-h332-fj6p-2232
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iox-cmdinj-RkSURGHG

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