Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-1519 lets a logged-in local user on an affected endpoint alter Cisco AnyConnect VPN profile files. This is not a remote takeover issue, but profile tampering could affect VPN trust, routing, or connection behavior. Business urgency is moderate and depends on endpoint exposure to untrusted local users.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate endpoint integrity issue. Prioritize managed workstations, shared systems, and environments where local users are less trusted. Confirm Cisco guidance before scheduling remediation because version and fix details are incomplete in the provided evidence.
Technical view
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client has insufficient input validation in its IPC channel. An authenticated local attacker with valid system credentials could send a crafted IPC message to the AnyConnect process and modify VPN profile files. CVSS 3.1 is 4.7 with local access, high complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client where an attacker can authenticate locally. The provided bundle does not identify specific affected or fixed versions, so asset owners must confirm applicability against Cisco’s advisory.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires valid local credentials and high attack complexity. The described impact is profile modification, not confidentiality loss or service outage.
Researcher notes
This is CWE-20 input validation in a local IPC path. The CVSS vector indicates integrity-only impact with no confidentiality or availability impact. The bundle lacks affected version granularity and remediation specifics, so validation should start from Cisco’s advisory and local endpoint inventory.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco’s advisory for affected and fixed AnyConnect releases.
- Apply Cisco-recommended updates or mitigations where applicable.
- Restrict local account access on endpoints running AnyConnect.
- Protect VPN profile files from unauthorized local modification.
- Investigate unexpected VPN profile changes on managed endpoints.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints running Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
- Compare installed AnyConnect releases with Cisco’s advisory.
- Review VPN profile files for unauthorized or unexplained changes.
- Confirm endpoint users follow least-privilege access controls.
- Check endpoint management logs for local profile modification events.
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
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-20: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-1519 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
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:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N13.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210505 Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Profile Modification 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.