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CVE Record

CVE-2021-1280: Cisco Advanced Malware Protection for Endpoints and Immunet for Windows DLL Hijacking Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the loading mechanism of specific DLLs of Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for Endpoints for Windows and Immunet for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL hijacking attack. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need valid credentials on the Windows system. This vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of directory search paths at run time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious DLL file on the targeted system. This file will execute when the vulnerable application launches. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system with SYSTEM privileges.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw lets a logged-in Windows attacker abuse how Cisco endpoint security software loads DLL files. If successful, code can run with SYSTEM privileges, meaning the attacker could gain deep control of the machine. The sources do not show active exploitation or provide affected version detail in the bundle.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hardening issue. It is not shown as actively exploited in the provided sources, but successful abuse could turn ordinary local access into SYSTEM-level control on protected Windows assets.

Technical view

CVE-2021-1280 is a CWE-427 DLL search path handling issue in Cisco AMP for Endpoints for Windows and Immunet for Windows. A local authenticated attacker could cause arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges when the vulnerable application launches. CVSS is 7.8 high, with local access and low privileges required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints running Cisco AMP for Endpoints or Immunet. The source bundle does not identify specific vulnerable or fixed versions, so inventory must be checked against Cisco’s advisory.

Exploitation context

The vulnerability is not listed as KEV in the provided data, and no cited source states active exploitation. Exploitation requires valid local credentials on the target Windows system, limiting remote drive-by risk but increasing post-compromise privilege escalation concern.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a local privilege escalation class vulnerability, not a remote initial-access bug. Key evidence gaps are exact affected versions, fixed versions, and named workarounds. Use Cisco’s advisory as the authoritative source for version validation and remediation decisions.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Cisco’s advisory for affected and fixed release information.
  • Update affected Cisco AMP or Immunet Windows installations per Cisco guidance.
  • Prioritize remediation on shared, high-value, and administrator-accessible Windows endpoints.
  • Limit unnecessary local user access to endpoint systems.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for any later exploitation or workaround updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Windows hosts running Cisco AMP for Endpoints or Immunet.
  • Compare installed versions against Cisco’s advisory before declaring exposure closed.
  • Confirm remediated endpoints are running vendor-recommended fixed versions.
  • Review endpoint telemetry for unusual SYSTEM-level execution from security software context.
  • Check vulnerability management records for CVE-2021-1280 coverage and exceptions.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-427: 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.

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-1280 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-1280Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco AMP for Endpointsn/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-427 · source CWE mapping

Uncontrolled Search Path Element

Uncontrolled Search Path Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.