CVE-2021-1483 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2021-1483
Vulnerability Scoring

6.4
/10
High Risk

If left unpatched, CVE-2021-1483 could lead to major system disruptions or data loss.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Network
    Vulnerability is exploitable over a network without physical access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Changed
    Successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: None
    No user interaction is necessary for exploitation.

CVE-2021-1483 Details

Status: Analyzed

Last updated: 🕝 04 Aug 2025, 14:41 UTC
Originally published on: 🕔 15 Nov 2024, 17:15 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 261 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

psirt@cisco.com

CVSS3 Type

Secondary

CVSS3 Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVE-2021-1483 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2021-1483: 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.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2021-1483

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2021-1483 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2021-1483

CVE-2021-1483 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2021-1483, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2021-1483, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: Low
    CVE-2021-1483 could lead to minor leaks of non-critical information without major privacy breaches.
  • Integrity: Low
    Exploiting CVE-2021-1483 may cause minor changes to data without severely impacting its accuracy.
  • Availability: None
    CVE-2021-1483 does not impact system availability.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

The EPSS score estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the near future.

EPSS Score: 0.053% (probability of exploit)

EPSS Percentile: 24.62% (lower percentile = lower relative risk)
This vulnerability is less risky than approximately 75.38% of others.

CVE-2021-1483 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-611

CAPEC Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification

  • Data Serialization External Entities Blowup CAPEC-221 This attack takes advantage of the entity replacement property of certain data serialization languages (e.g., XML, YAML, etc.) where the value of the replacement is a URI. A well-crafted file could have the entity refer to a URI that consumes a large amount of resources to create a denial of service condition. This can cause the system to either freeze, crash, or execute arbitrary code depending on the URI.

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:17.2.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.302:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.302:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.303:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.303:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.501_es:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:18.4.501_es:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.0.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.0.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.097:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.097:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.098:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.098:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.099:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.099:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.929:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.2.929:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:19.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.2_937:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.2_937:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1_927:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1_927:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1_930:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2.1_930:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_925:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_925:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_928:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_928:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_929:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.2_929:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:cisco:catalyst_sd-wan_manager:20.4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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