Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-1227 affects Cisco NX-OS devices when NX-API is enabled. A malicious link could cause an NX-API user’s browser to perform unintended actions, using that user’s privileges. Successful abuse could expose or change device configuration. NX-API is disabled by default, which reduces likely exposure.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for network infrastructure where NX-API is enabled. The main business risk is unauthorized configuration viewing or modification on Cisco switching platforms. Default-disabled status and required user interaction reduce urgency for environments that never enabled NX-API.
Technical view
The issue is a CSRF vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software’s NX-API feature caused by insufficient CSRF protections. It is remotely reachable without attacker authentication but requires user interaction. Impact is high for confidentiality and integrity because actions run at the affected user’s privilege level; availability impact is not cited.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Cisco NX-OS environments where NX-API has been enabled and administrators use it through browsers or web workflows. Devices with NX-API left disabled are not exposed through this feature based on the provided description.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires persuading an NX-API user to follow a malicious link, then actions execute with that user’s privilege level. No exploit details are provided here.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies Cisco NX-OS Software and NX-API, but does not include affected version ranges or patch details. Analysis should stay tied to Cisco’s advisory for product matrices and remediation. CVSS is 8.1, vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
Mitigation direction
- Identify Cisco NX-OS devices where NX-API is enabled.
- Keep NX-API disabled where it is not operationally required.
- Review Cisco’s advisory for affected releases, fixed software, and supported workarounds.
- Prioritize remediation for devices managed by high-privilege NX-API users.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco NX-OS devices and record NX-API enablement status.
- Compare device software versions against Cisco’s advisory guidance.
- Confirm whether privileged users access NX-API through browsers.
- Review device configuration history for unexpected changes around suspected exposure windows.
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-352: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. 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-2021-1227 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
- 8.1 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N2.85.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210224 Cisco NX-OS Software NX-API Cross-Site Request Forgery 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.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.