Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco DCNM has an XML parsing flaw in its SOAP API that can let a remote administrator read files from the affected system. The base severity is medium, but Cisco notes the risk is worse when considered with related DCNM authentication bypass vulnerabilities published at the same time.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority confidentiality risk. Prioritize faster if DCNM is internet-reachable, widely administered, or has not been assessed for the related authentication bypass vulnerabilities Cisco disclosed at the same time.
Technical view
CVE-2019-15983 is a CWE-611 XXE issue in Cisco Data Center Network Manager SOAP API handling of certain XML files. An authenticated remote attacker with DCNM administrative privileges could trigger arbitrary file read. CVSS v3.0 is 4.9: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, high confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to environments running Cisco Data Center Network Manager where the SOAP API is reachable and administrative credentials are compromised or misused. The source bundle does not provide specific affected versions or CPEs, so asset owners must verify Cisco DCNM deployments against Cisco’s advisory.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires administrative privileges on DCNM according to Cisco. Risk increases if paired with the simultaneously disclosed Cisco DCNM authentication bypass vulnerabilities referenced by the advisory.
Researcher notes
Key uncertainty is affected version detail, which is not present in the supplied bundle. The important research angle is chaining potential: this flaw needs high privileges, but Cisco explicitly says severity is aggravated by related DCNM authentication bypass vulnerabilities.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco’s advisory for affected and fixed DCNM releases.
- Restrict DCNM administrative access to trusted administrators only.
- Limit network reachability to DCNM management interfaces and SOAP API endpoints.
- Investigate the related DCNM authentication bypass advisories cited by Cisco.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco Data Center Network Manager instances in the environment.
- Confirm installed DCNM versions against Cisco’s advisory.
- Review who has DCNM administrative privileges.
- Check whether DCNM management services are reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review logs for unusual privileged SOAP API activity.
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-611: 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 lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-15983 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
- 4.9 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N1.23.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
4.9MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20200102 Cisco Data Center Network Manager XML External Entity Read Access 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 Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
