Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Cisco FMC may store configured proxy credentials in clear text with weak file permissions. A logged-in local user with CLI access could read those credentials. This is not described as a remote unauthenticated issue, but exposed proxy credentials can create broader network and monitoring risk.
Executive priority
Handle as moderate priority. It requires local authenticated access, reducing urgency versus internet-facing flaws, but proxy credential exposure can expand business impact if FMC access is shared or weakly governed.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1126 is an information disclosure flaw in Cisco Firepower Management Center proxy credential storage. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.5 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Cisco Firepower Management Center deployments that have proxy server credentials configured and allow local authenticated CLI access. The source bundle does not identify specific affected versions.
Exploitation context
The sources describe exploitation by an authenticated local attacker viewing affected configuration files through the FMC CLI. The bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV status is false.
Researcher notes
Key details are CWE-256 and CVSS vector CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Version and fix detail are incomplete in the bundle, so validation depends on Cisco advisory review.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco advisory for affected releases, fixed versions, and supported workarounds.
- Limit FMC CLI access to trusted administrators and audited break-glass paths.
- Remove unnecessary local accounts and privileges on FMC systems.
- Rotate configured proxy credentials after remediation if exposure is suspected.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco FMC deployments and identify systems with proxy credentials configured.
- Compare installed FMC versions against Cisco’s advisory guidance.
- Review local and administrative access records for unexpected CLI access.
- Confirm proxy credentials were rotated where exposure is plausible.
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-256: 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 lookupCVE-2021-1126 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
- 5.5 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N1.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210113 Cisco Firepower Management Center Information Disclosure 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.
Plaintext Storage of a Password
Plaintext Storage of a Password represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.