Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2017-7921 is a critical authentication flaw in multiple Hikvision IP camera families. A remote unauthenticated attacker may gain elevated access and sensitive information. Because CISA lists it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, organizations should treat exposed or unpatched affected cameras as urgent risk.
Executive priority
Prioritize within the highest remediation queue for any affected, reachable camera. This is a critical, remotely reachable authentication issue with confirmed known exploitation in CISA KEV.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-287 improper authentication affecting listed Hikvision DS-2CD and DS-2DF camera series across specific firmware build ranges. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected Hikvision camera models run the vulnerable firmware ranges, especially if camera management interfaces are reachable from the internet or shared operational networks.
Exploitation context
Active exploitation is supported by the CISA KEV listing. The provided sources do not establish campaign scale, attacker identity, or whether a given environment has been compromised.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports broad impact across named Hikvision camera families and firmware ranges. The bundle does not provide safe product-specific fixed-version mapping, so validation should rely on the Hikvision advisories and local firmware inventory.
Mitigation direction
- Identify affected Hikvision camera models and firmware builds.
- Apply Hikvision vendor guidance and firmware updates for affected devices.
- Remove direct internet exposure for camera management interfaces.
- Restrict access using VPNs, firewall rules, and trusted administration networks.
- Review accounts, configuration, and access logs for unauthorized changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory camera model numbers and firmware build dates.
- Compare findings against Hikvision affected series and build ranges.
- Confirm devices no longer expose management interfaces publicly.
- Verify installed firmware aligns with current Hikvision guidance.
- Check CISA KEV status for required remediation urgency.
Public sources used
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-287: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2017-7921 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-17-124-01CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://ghostbin.com/paste/q2vq2CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.hikvision.com/us-en/support/document-center/special-notices/privilege-escalating-vulnerability-in-certain-hikvision-ip-cameras/CVE reference
- https://www.hikvision.com/cn/support/CybersecurityCenter/SecurityNotices/20170314/CVE reference
- https://www.hikvision.com/en/support/cybersecurity/security-advisory/security-notification--privilege-escalating-vulnerability-in-cer/CVE reference
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-7921CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Authentication
Improper Authentication represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.