Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Cisco FTD flaw lets someone who already has local authenticated CLI access on a multi-instance device run operating-system commands as root. It is not described as remote or unauthenticated, but compromise of a firewall platform can affect network security controls and device integrity.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for environments using Cisco FTD multi-instance mode, especially where administrator access is broadly delegated. It requires local authenticated access, but successful exploitation grants root-level control of a security appliance.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1448 is a CLI command injection issue in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software. Insufficient validation of user-supplied command arguments can allow an authenticated local attacker, on affected multi-instance deployments, to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying OS with root privileges.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software devices running in multi-instance mode where a local authenticated user can access the affected CLI command. The supplied sources do not provide exact affected or fixed version ranges.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and the provided sources do not state active exploitation. The main risk is privilege escalation after legitimate or compromised local access.
Researcher notes
The bundle supports command injection, local authenticated attack requirements, multi-instance mode dependency, and root impact. It does not provide exact vulnerable versions, fixed releases, exploit availability, or detailed mitigations, so version validation must rely on Cisco's advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco's advisory for affected and fixed release guidance.
- Upgrade affected Cisco FTD deployments according to vendor guidance.
- Limit CLI access to trusted administrators only.
- Review local accounts and remove unnecessary privileges.
- Monitor Cisco guidance for any updated mitigations or fixed versions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco FTD devices running in multi-instance mode.
- Compare installed FTD versions against Cisco's advisory.
- Identify users with local authenticated CLI access.
- Check administrative logs for unusual CLI activity.
- Confirm remediation status after any vendor-recommended upgrade.
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
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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Open ATT&CK lookupExecution 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 lookupCVE-2021-1448 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/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:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210428 Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software Command Injection 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.
Improper Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.