Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-1864 lets a logged-in attacker with only read-only access run commands as root through Cisco IMC's web management interface. For affected Cisco UCSE devices, this can mean full device compromise if credentials and management access are available.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority infrastructure management-plane issue. It is not described as internet-wormable in the bundle, but any affected device with exposed IMC access and weak account controls could be fully compromised by a low-privileged authenticated attacker.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-78 command injection in Cisco Integrated Management Controller Software. Insufficient input validation in the web-based management interface allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary system-level commands with root privileges. CVSS is 8.8 high with low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Organizations using Cisco Unified Computing System E-Series Software with IMC web management reachable to administrators or management networks. Exposure is higher where IMC credentials are shared, weak, reused, compromised, or where the management interface is reachable beyond tightly controlled admin paths.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. Exploitation requires network access to the IMC web interface and authenticated access, but read-only privileges are enough for root-level command execution on affected devices.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Cisco advisory reference in the bundle. Do not assume specific fixed versions, exploit availability, or additional affected products beyond Cisco UCSE/IMC without checking Cisco's advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco's advisory for affected releases and fixed software guidance.
- Restrict IMC web management access to trusted admin networks and VPN paths only.
- Audit IMC accounts; remove unused users and avoid shared read-only credentials.
- Monitor management-plane logs for unusual authenticated activity or configuration changes.
- Prioritize remediation for UCSE management interfaces reachable outside restricted admin networks.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco UCSE assets and confirm whether IMC Software is present.
- Identify IMC software versions and compare them with Cisco advisory scope.
- Verify IMC management interface exposure from user, server, VPN, and internet zones.
- Confirm all IMC accounts are named, least-privilege, and actively required.
- Review logs for unusual authenticated management activity around affected assets.
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-2019-1864 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
- 8.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20190821 Cisco Integrated Management Controller 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.