Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco NFVIS had a flaw that let a logged-in attacker with high privileges read files from the device operating system. The attack path involved uploading a crafted tar package through the Web Portal Image Repository and reading generated log entries. Business impact is mainly confidentiality: secrets, configuration, or other sensitive local files could be exposed.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted confidentiality risk, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize NFVIS systems that manage sensitive network functions, have broad admin access, or expose the Web Portal beyond tightly controlled management networks.
Technical view
CVE-2019-1961 is an authenticated remote arbitrary file read in Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software. Improper input validation of uploaded tar packages in the Web Portal Image Repository caused sensitive OS file contents to appear in generated logs. CVSS 3.0 is 4.9 because exploitation requires high privileges but can disclose high-impact confidential data.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Cisco Enterprise NFVIS deployments where authenticated high-privilege users can access the Web Portal Image Repository. The source bundle does not specify affected versions or deployment configurations.
Exploitation context
The CVE record describes a remote authenticated attack requiring high privileges and no user interaction. The bundle does not cite public exploitation, and KEV status is false, so active exploitation is not established from these sources.
Researcher notes
The provided data does not name fixed versions, workarounds, or exact affected version ranges. Validation should therefore start with Cisco’s advisory and local asset inventory. Avoid assuming broader Cisco product impact beyond Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco’s advisory for affected releases and fixed software guidance.
- Upgrade or patch affected Cisco NFVIS systems according to vendor guidance.
- Restrict Web Portal access to trusted administrative networks and accounts.
- Audit high-privilege NFVIS accounts and remove unnecessary access.
- Review logs for suspicious image uploads and file disclosure indicators.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco Enterprise NFVIS appliances and record software versions.
- Check whether the Web Portal Image Repository is enabled and reachable.
- Confirm administrative access is limited to authorized high-privilege users.
- Compare installed versions against Cisco’s advisory guidance.
- Review generated logs for unusual tar uploads or sensitive file contents.
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-532: 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 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-2019-1961 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
- 20190807 Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software Web Portal Arbitrary File Read 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.
Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.