CVE-2021-1576 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-1576, a vulnerability found in Cisco Business Process Automation (BPA) that could allow an authenticated remote attacker to elevate privileges to Administrator.

Understanding CVE-2021-1576

CVE-2021-1576 is a high-severity vulnerability discovered on July 7, 2021, affecting the web-based management interface of Cisco Business Process Automation (BPA).

What is CVE-2021-1576?

Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco BPA could enable an authenticated remote attacker to elevate their privileges to Administrator by exploiting improper authorization enforcement for specific features and access to confidential log files.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1576

The vulnerability poses a high risk, as successful exploitation could allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions with the privileges of an administrator or retrieve sensitive data from the logs and impersonate legitimate privileged users, ultimately gaining Administrator-level access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1576

The following technical details outline the vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper authorization enforcement for specific features and access to log files containing confidential information within the web-based management interface of Cisco BPA.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects all versions of Cisco Business Process Automation (BPA).

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP messages to the affected system, allowing them to perform unauthorized actions or retrieve sensitive data to elevate privileges to Administrator.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-1576, consider the following:

Immediate Steps to Take

Cisco recommends applying the necessary updates and patches as soon as they are available.
Monitor Cisco's security advisory for any updates related to this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong password policies and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
Restrict network access to the management interface of Cisco BPA.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security updates and patches released by Cisco to address CVE-2021-1576.