External risk intelligence

Cisco HyperFlex HX Command Injection Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2021-1497

A vulnerability in the Cisco HyperFlex HX web management interface could allow remote attackers to execute commands. This impacts affected devices, potentially leading to unauthorized access and system control, posing a business risk.

4Halo Surface Signal

OS Command Injection

Cisco Hyperflex Hx Data Platform

before 4.0\(2e\)4.5 to before 4.5\(2a\)

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2021-1497

The vulnerability affects a web-based management interface for an infrastructure product. While such management interfaces are ideally kept on internal management networks, they are frequently exposed to the internet or reachable through edge gateways in common administrative deployment patterns, making them a common target for remote access.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

The web-based management interface of Cisco HyperFlex HX devices contains vulnerabilities that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute commands on an affected device. This could lead to unauthorized access and control of the system, impacting data integrity and availability. The potential for command injection allows attackers to perform malicious actions, posing a significant business risk.

  • Vulnerable Cisco HyperFlex HX management interface
  • Flaw allows remote command execution
  • Business impact includes data compromise and system control

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

The web-based management interface of Cisco HyperFlex HX is exposed to network access. This allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain access. The attacker can then trigger a command injection, leading to unauthorized control or impact.

  • Exposure condition: Network access to interface.
  • Attacker starting point: Unauthenticated, remote.
  • Trigger and result: Command injection for control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations utilizing affected Cisco HyperFlex HX devices. An unauthenticated attacker could potentially execute arbitrary commands on a targeted device remotely, leading to unauthorized access and control. The widespread use of the affected product and the critical severity of the vulnerability indicate a high potential for business impact.

  • Attackers need no special skills.
  • No access or conditions are needed.
  • Business risk is critical and urgent.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject commands into affected devices through the web-based management interface. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution, potentially impacting system integrity and data confidentiality. Organizations should prioritize understanding their exposure and implementing appropriate remediation steps.

  • Find affected Cisco HyperFlex assets.
  • Reduce network exposure or isolate affected systems.
  • Apply vendor fixes and validate their implementation.
  • Monitor for related security issues.

Frequently asked questions

What is Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform?

Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform is a software-defined infrastructure solution that consolidates compute, storage, and networking for data centers. It is frequently employed for deploying business-critical applications and virtualized environments.

What type of weakness does CVE-2021-1497 represent?

CVE-2021-1497 is classified as CWE-78, a command injection vulnerability. This allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on an affected device, potentially leading to unauthorized control.

How can an attacker exploit CVE-2021-1497?

An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted input to the web-based management interface of affected Cisco HyperFlex HX devices, triggering command injection and allowing for arbitrary command execution.

What is the relevance of CVE-2021-1497, also known as Halo Surface Signal?

CVE-2021-1497 is a critical vulnerability affecting Cisco HyperFlex HX devices. Its relevance is heightened because the web-based management interface, often accessible remotely, can be exploited for command injection, posing a significant risk of unauthorized access and system compromise.

What steps should be taken to address CVE-2021-1497?

Organizations should identify affected Cisco HyperFlex assets, reduce network exposure by isolating systems if possible, and promptly apply vendor-provided security updates. Validating the successful implementation of these fixes and monitoring for related security events are also crucial.

References