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CVE Record

CVE-2021-1483: Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software XML External Entity Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to gain read and write access to information that is stored on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to improper handling of XML External Entity (XXE) entries when the affected software parses certain XML files. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to import a crafted XML file with malicious entries. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read and write files within the affected application.Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

MediumCVSS 6.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-1483 lets an authenticated remote attacker abuse XML parsing in Cisco SD-WAN vManage to read and write files inside the affected application. The business risk is exposure or alteration of management-plane data, but the source bundle does not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority management-plane issue. Patch during the next security maintenance window, sooner for internet-reachable or high-trust SD-WAN management deployments.

Technical view

The flaw is an XML External Entity issue, CWE-611, in the vManage web UI XML import path. Cisco rates it CVSS 3.1 6.4. Exploitation requires authentication and a crafted XML file, and successful exploitation affects confidentiality and integrity within the application, not availability.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where Cisco SD-WAN vManage or Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager runs one of the listed vulnerable versions and allows authenticated users to import XML files through the web UI.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not identify KEV listing or active exploitation. Cisco describes exploitation as remote and authenticated, involving a crafted XML file with malicious XXE entries imported through the affected software.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on vulnerable vManage versions and XML import handling. Avoid assuming broader system file access beyond Cisco's stated read/write impact within the affected application.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Cisco software updates that address CVE-2021-1483.
  • Check Cisco advisory guidance for the correct fixed release path.
  • Do not rely on a workaround; Cisco states none address this vulnerability.
  • Prioritize patching systems managing production SD-WAN environments.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Cisco SD-WAN vManage or Catalyst SD-WAN Manager versions.
  • Compare deployed versions against Cisco's affected version list.
  • Confirm the Cisco advisory's fixed software is installed.
  • Review access to XML import functionality and authenticated user roles.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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

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-611: 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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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-1483 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
6.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/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
4Source 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
6.4CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/RL:X/RC:X/E:X3.12.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.4Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-1483Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/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, 19.2.4.0.1unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-611

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

CWE-611 · source CWE mapping

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs