Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco WLC Software has a CLI flaw that could let a local, authenticated attacker read restricted system files. This is not described as remote or unauthenticated. The main risk is exposure of sensitive information from controllers, especially where privileged access is shared, weakly monitored, or granted too broadly.
Executive priority
Handle as a moderate-priority infrastructure hygiene item. It is not described as unauthenticated or actively exploited, but compromised or misused privileged access could expose sensitive controller files.
Technical view
CVE-2019-15266 is a CWE-22 path traversal issue in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Software CLI filename parameters. Improper input sanitization could allow an authenticated local attacker with high privileges to access restricted system files. CVSS v3.0 is 4.4, with high confidentiality impact and no integrity or availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Software deployments. The source bundle does not identify specific affected versions or CPEs, so teams should verify controller inventory against Cisco guidance.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated local CLI access and high privileges, reducing broad internet-scale risk but preserving insider or credential-abuse concern.
Researcher notes
The source bundle gives the vulnerability class, attack preconditions, and impact, but not affected version ranges or patch details. Avoid assuming exploit availability. Focus validation on Cisco WLC presence, privileged CLI access paths, and vendor-advisory version mapping.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco’s advisory for affected and fixed software guidance.
- Inventory Cisco WLC deployments and current software versions.
- Restrict CLI access to trusted administrative users only.
- Review privileged account sharing and remove unnecessary access.
- Monitor controller administrative activity for unusual file access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Cisco WLC Software exists in the environment.
- Compare deployed versions with Cisco’s advisory guidance.
- Review who has local or CLI administrative access.
- Check logs for unexpected privileged CLI activity.
- Validate that least-privilege controls cover controller administration.
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-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-15266 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.4 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
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:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N0.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
4.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20191016 Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Path Traversal 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 Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.