Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw can let someone within wireless range disrupt a Cisco Aironet access point link. The issue can force an AP port into an error-disabled state, taking that port offline and causing limited wireless service loss. It is a local-adjacent denial-of-service risk, not a data theft or remote takeover issue.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority availability issue where Cisco Aironet access points support important business locations. It is not presented as data compromise, but a nearby attacker could disrupt wireless service. Patch planning should focus on exposed or operationally critical sites first.
Technical view
Cisco describes improper BPDU forwarding from specific wireless clients in Cisco Aironet AP Software. An unauthenticated adjacent attacker can cause a high-impact availability condition by triggering error-disable behavior on an AP port. The CVSS vector is adjacent network, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments using Cisco Aironet Access Points running affected Aironet AP Software. The attacker must be adjacent to the wireless network, so internet-only exposure is not indicated by the sources. Exact affected versions are not specified in the provided bundle.
Exploitation context
The public bundle describes a wireless-adjacent denial-of-service condition. CISA KEV status is false, and no cited source in the bundle states active exploitation in the wild. The practical impact is localized service interruption if an AP port goes offline.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strongest for vulnerability mechanics and CVSS impact, but incomplete for affected version ranges and fixes in the supplied bundle. Research should stay anchored to Cisco’s advisory, product software mapping, and operational logs showing AP port error-disable behavior.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco’s advisory for affected releases and fixed software for deployed AP models.
- Upgrade affected Aironet AP Software when Cisco provides a fixed release for your platform.
- Prioritize sites where wireless uptime is business-critical or physically exposed to untrusted clients.
- Monitor AP and switching events for unexpected error-disabled port conditions.
- Avoid undocumented workarounds; follow Cisco guidance for model-specific remediation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco Aironet AP models and software versions across wireless sites.
- Compare deployed versions against Cisco’s advisory and product support guidance.
- Review AP and switch logs for port error-disabled events tied to wireless traffic.
- Confirm whether affected APs serve critical offices, guest networks, warehouses, or operations areas.
- Document any unsupported or unpatched APs for replacement or compensating controls.
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
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CWE-20: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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-2019-15265 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
- 7.4 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/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:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H2.84Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.4HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20191016 Cisco Aironet Access Points Bridge Protocol Data Unit Port Disable Denial of Service 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 Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.