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CVE Record

CVE-2021-1249: Cisco Data Center Network Manager Vulnerabilities

Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow a remote attacker with network-operator privileges to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack or a reflected file download (RFD) attack against a user of the interface. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Cisco DCNM’s web management interface has input-handling flaws that could let a low-privileged network operator target another interface user with XSS or reflected file download behavior. The issue is not listed in KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate operational risk. Remediate during the normal vulnerability cycle, but accelerate if DCNM is reachable outside restricted admin networks or manages critical data center infrastructure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-1249 covers multiple Cisco Data Center Network Manager web-interface vulnerabilities tied to improper input validation. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5 with network attack vector, low complexity, required privileges, required user interaction, changed scope, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to environments running Cisco Data Center Network Manager where attackers can authenticate with network-operator privileges and reach the web interface. Risk increases if the management interface is broadly reachable or operator access is loosely controlled.

Exploitation context

The sources support authenticated, user-assisted exploitation against a DCNM interface user. They do not support claims of unauthenticated exploitation, public exploit use, ransomware activity, or active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are PR:L and UI:R. The affected version range is not provided in the source bundle, so validation should rely on Cisco’s advisory rather than inferred product versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Cisco’s advisory for affected releases and fixed software guidance.
  • Restrict DCNM web access to trusted administrative networks or VPN paths.
  • Remove stale or unnecessary network-operator accounts.
  • Apply Cisco-provided updates or mitigations if applicable to your release.
  • Warn DCNM users about unexpected links or download prompts.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Cisco DCNM deployments and versions.
  • Compare installed releases with Cisco’s advisory scope.
  • Confirm DCNM web management is not internet-exposed.
  • Review accounts with network-operator privileges.
  • Check DCNM access logs for unusual interface activity.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-1249 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.33.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-1249Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco Data Center Network Managern/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-20

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.