Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets a logged-in attacker with high privileges use the Cisco FMC web interface to run operating-system commands as root. It is serious because FMC centrally manages security controls, but the supplied evidence indicates it requires authentication and high privileges, reducing broad internet-driven risk.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for environments using Cisco FMC because compromise could give root control of a security management system. Prioritize version confirmation, vendor guidance, and access restriction, but do not frame it as actively exploited based on the supplied evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2019-12690 is a CWE-78 command injection in Cisco Firepower Management Center web UI input handling. CVSS 3.0 is 7.2 with network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Organizations running Cisco Firepower Management Center may be exposed, especially where the FMC web UI is reachable by many administrators or broad internal networks. The supplied record does not identify affected version ranges, so exposure cannot be confirmed from the bundle alone.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes authenticated remote exploitation through crafted web UI input leading to root command execution. It does not cite public exploitation, and KEV status is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed from these sources.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are PR:H and UI:N. The root impact is severe, but the supplied data lacks exact affected versions, fixed releases, and workaround details. Avoid asserting exploit availability or unauthenticated reach. Validate against Cisco’s advisory before assigning asset-level exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco advisory for fixed FMC releases and apply the vendor-supported update path.
- Restrict FMC web UI access to trusted administrative networks and VPNs.
- Audit FMC administrator accounts; remove unnecessary privileges and stale credentials.
- Monitor FMC logs for suspicious web UI and administrative activity.
- If patch status is unclear, contact Cisco support or the responsible vendor channel.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco FMC instances and record installed software versions.
- Map each version against Cisco’s advisory because supplied affected ranges are unspecified.
- Confirm FMC web UI exposure from internet, VPN, and internal administrative networks.
- Review privileged FMC account usage around the advisory date and current period.
- Check whether compensating access controls limit web UI reachability.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-12690 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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.
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:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20191002 Cisco Firepower Management Center Command Injection VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
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 Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.