Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco DCNM had SQL injection flaws in REST and SOAP API endpoints. An attacker already holding DCNM administrator privileges could run arbitrary SQL against the application database, risking exposure, alteration, or disruption of network-management data. Cisco noted the risk is worsened when combined with separate DCNM authentication-bypass flaws disclosed at the same time.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority infrastructure management risk, especially where DCNM is internet-facing or broadly reachable internally. The administrative privilege requirement lowers standalone likelihood, but compromise could affect systems used to manage data-center networks.
Technical view
CVE-2019-15985 is CWE-89 SQL injection in Cisco Data Center Network Manager REST and SOAP APIs. CVSS 3.0 is 7.2: network reachable, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The supplied bundle does not identify specific affected versions or fixed releases.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running Cisco Data Center Network Manager with reachable REST or SOAP API endpoints. Direct exploitation requires DCNM administrative privileges, but Cisco explicitly warns severity is aggravated by simultaneously disclosed authentication-bypass vulnerabilities.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Practical risk depends on whether attackers can obtain or bypass DCNM administrator access. No exploit details should be needed for validation; focus on inventory, version status, API exposure, and account control.
Researcher notes
Key unknowns in the supplied bundle are affected release ranges, fixed versions, and confirmed exploitation. The important research angle is vulnerability chaining: Cisco says these SQL injection flaws are aggravated by same-day DCNM authentication-bypass vulnerabilities.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco advisory cisco-sa-20200102-dcnm-sql-inject for affected and fixed releases.
- Apply Cisco-recommended updates or workarounds where applicable.
- Restrict DCNM management and API access to trusted administrative networks.
- Audit DCNM administrator accounts and remove unnecessary privileges.
- Review related Cisco DCNM authentication-bypass advisory exposure.
- Monitor Cisco guidance for any revised remediation details.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco DCNM deployments and identify exposed REST or SOAP API endpoints.
- Confirm running versions against Cisco advisory affected-version information.
- Check whether DCNM administrative access is restricted and logged.
- Review logs for unusual administrative API activity or database errors.
- Verify remediation status after applying Cisco guidance.
- Track whether related authentication-bypass CVEs affect the same deployment.
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-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. 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 lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-15985 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
- 20200102 Cisco Data Center Network Manager SQL Injection VulnerabilitiesCVE 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 SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.