Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A logged-in remote attacker could abuse certain Cisco Data Center Network Manager REST API endpoints to run arbitrary SQL commands. Because DCNM manages data center networks, successful abuse could expose sensitive data, change records, or disrupt service. The supplied sources do not identify public exploitation or specific affected versions.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority infrastructure management risk. It requires credentials, but DCNM's role in data center network operations makes confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact potentially material if exposed accounts or broad API access exist.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1248 is a set of SQL injection vulnerabilities in Cisco DCNM REST API endpoints. The issue is CWE-89 with CVSS 3.1 score 8.8: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Cisco Data Center Network Manager is deployed and its REST API is reachable by authenticated users. The source bundle names Cisco DCNM but does not enumerate affected versions, so teams must verify against Cisco's advisory and their installed release.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated remote access, but the impact is severe because arbitrary SQL commands may affect sensitive management data and service availability.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports authenticated remote SQL injection in certain DCNM REST API endpoints, but the bundle lacks affected version ranges, fixed versions, and exploit observations. Avoid assuming unauthenticated exposure or active exploitation without additional source-backed evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco's advisory for affected and fixed DCNM releases.
- Update affected Cisco DCNM deployments according to vendor guidance.
- Limit DCNM REST API access to trusted administrative networks.
- Review and reduce unnecessary DCNM user privileges.
- Monitor DCNM authentication, API, and database error logs.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all Cisco DCNM deployments and installed versions.
- Compare installed versions with Cisco's advisory guidance.
- Confirm REST API access is restricted to intended users and networks.
- Review recent DCNM logs for unusual authenticated API activity.
- Verify remediation through approved vulnerability scanning or vendor checks.
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 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-2021-1248 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210120 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.