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CVE Record

CVE-2021-1481: Cisco SD-WAN vManage Cypher Query Language Injection Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct Cypher query language injection attacks on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests to the interface of an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain sensitive information.Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

An authenticated user with network access to Cisco SD-WAN vManage’s web management interface could abuse weak input validation to read sensitive information. This is not described as unauthenticated takeover, but it matters because vManage manages SD-WAN infrastructure.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation in normal vulnerability cycles, faster if vManage is broadly reachable or supports critical networks. The issue is medium severity but affects a high-value management plane.

Technical view

CVE-2021-1481 is a CWE-943 Cypher query language injection in Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software, listed as Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager in the bundle. CVSS 3.1 is 4.3: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, low confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where affected Cisco SD-WAN vManage/Catalyst SD-WAN Manager versions are deployed and authenticated users can reach the web-based management interface. Internet-exposed or broadly reachable management interfaces increase operational concern.

Exploitation context

The bundle says exploitation requires an authenticated remote attacker sending crafted HTTP requests. It does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. Successful exploitation is limited in the source to obtaining sensitive information.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on version exposure, management interface reachability, and authenticated access paths. Avoid treating the included auth-bypass reference as proof of unauthenticated exploitation for this CVE unless Cisco explicitly correlates them.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Cisco software updates addressing CVE-2021-1481.
  • Do not rely on workarounds; Cisco states none address this vulnerability.
  • Restrict access to the vManage management interface to trusted networks.
  • Review privileged and low-privileged vManage accounts for least privilege.
  • Monitor management activity for unusual information-access patterns.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Cisco SD-WAN Manager/vManage versions against the affected list.
  • Confirm installed software matches Cisco’s fixed release guidance.
  • Verify management interface exposure from internal and external network paths.
  • Review authentication logs for unexpected low-privileged access.
  • Check change records for Cisco advisory remediation evidence.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

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

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

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-943: 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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-1481 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
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/RL:X/RC:X/E:X

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
3Source 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
4.3CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/RL:X/RC:X/E:X2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-1481Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/RL:X/RC:X/E:X

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 Catalyst SD-WAN Manager20.1.12, 19.2.1, 18.4.4, 18.4.5, 20.1.1.1, 20.1.1, 19.3.0, 19.2.2, 19.2.099, 18.3.6, 18.3.7, 19.2.0, 18.3.8, 19.0.0, 19.1.0, 18.4.302, 18.4.303, 19.2.097, 19.2.098, 17.2.10, 18.3.6.1, 19.0.1a, 18.2.0, 18.4.3, 18.4.1, 17.2.8, 18.3.3.1, 18.4.0, 18.3.1, 17.2.6, 17.2.9, 18.3.4, 17.2.5, 18.3.1.1, 18.3.5, 18.4.0.1, 18.3.3, 17.2.7, 17.2.4, 18.3.0, 19.2.3, 18.4.501_ES, 20.3.1, 20.1.2, 19.2.929, 19.2.31, 20.3.2, 19.2.32, 20.3.2_925, 20.3.2.1, 20.3.2.1_927, 18.4.6, 20.1.2_937, 20.4.1, 20.3.2_928, 20.3.2_929, 20.4.1.0.1, 20.3.2.1_930, 19.2.4, 20.4.1.1, 20.3.3, 19.2.4.0.1, 20.3.2_937, 20.3.3.1unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-943

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

CWE-943 · source CWE mapping

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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