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CVE Record

CVE-2021-40119: Cisco Policy Suite Static SSH Keys Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication mechanism of Cisco Policy Suite could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected system as the root user. This vulnerability is due to the re-use of static SSH keys across installations. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by extracting a key from a system under their control. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to an affected system as the root user.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Cisco Policy Suite reused static SSH keys across installations, creating a path for a remote attacker to log in as root. For an organization running affected CPS systems, this is a direct administrative compromise risk with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Executive priority

Prioritize urgently if Cisco Policy Suite is deployed, especially where management access is broadly reachable. Root login exposure can become full platform compromise, but urgency depends on confirmed CPS presence.

Technical view

CVE-2021-40119 affects Cisco Policy Suite Software key-based SSH authentication. The weakness is CWE-321, use of hard-coded cryptographic key. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8, network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, with full CIA impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running Cisco Policy Suite Software. The provided sources do not identify affected version ranges, so teams must verify CPS inventory and consult Cisco’s advisory for product-specific status.

Exploitation context

The source description says exploitation involves using a reused static SSH key to authenticate as root. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and no cited source here supports active exploitation.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a critical static-key authentication flaw, but the bundle lacks affected version details, fixed releases, and workaround specifics. Avoid assuming broader Cisco product exposure beyond Cisco Policy Suite Software.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all Cisco Policy Suite deployments and owners.
  • Consult Cisco’s advisory for affected releases and remediation guidance.
  • Apply Cisco-provided updates or workarounds when identified.
  • Restrict CPS SSH access to trusted management networks only.
  • Review administrative access controls for CPS systems.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether Cisco Policy Suite exists in asset inventory.
  • Compare deployed CPS versions against Cisco’s advisory.
  • Verify CPS SSH is not internet-exposed.
  • Review logs for unexpected root SSH access.
  • Confirm remediation status with platform owners.
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-321: 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.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-40119 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
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-40119Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco Policy Suite (CPS) Softwaren/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-321

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

CWE-321 · source CWE mapping

Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key

Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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