CVE-2026-20321
MediumCVSS 6.5Summary
A vulnerability in the web-based management API for Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of user-controlled command arguments. Exploitation requires valid administrative credentials.
Risk Assessment
An attacker with administrative privileges could execute arbitrary commands with root-level privileges on the underlying operating system, leading to full compromise. This could enable further lateral movement within the infrastructure.
Recommendation
Update Cisco APIC to a version containing the fix. Restrict access to the management API and monitor for unusual API calls.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)
See all- CVE-2026-76488Medium
A vulnerability in the export policies functionality of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive files on an affected device. Exploitation requires valid administrative credentials. The vulnerability is due to insufficient access control to file system resources.
- CVE-2017-6768High
A vulnerability in the build procedure for certain executable system files on Cisco APIC devices could allow an authenticated, local attacker to gain root-level privileges. The issue arises from the use of relative search paths for libraries without proper validation.
- CVE-2017-6767High
A vulnerability in Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) allows an authenticated, remote attacker to gain higher privileges than those assigned to their account. The attacker is granted the privileges of the last user to log in, regardless of whether those privileges are higher or lower.
- CVE-2016-1420High
The installation component on Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) devices with software before 1.3(2f) mishandles binary files, allowing local users to obtain root access via unspecified vectors.
- CVE-2026-76500Critical
A security review in Cisco APIC revealed multiple vulnerabilities related to improper control of a resource through its lifetime (CWE-664). These have been addressed in hardening releases.
- CVE-2026-76499Critical
A security review in Cisco APIC revealed multiple vulnerabilities related to improper neutralization issues (CWE-707). These have been addressed in hardening releases.
- CVE-2026-76498Critical
A security review in Cisco APIC revealed multiple vulnerabilities related to improper access control (CWE-284). These have been addressed in hardening releases.
Original NVD description (English source)
A vulnerability in the web-based management API for Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as the root user. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of user-controlled command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating using the API and sending crafted input. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device with root-level privileges.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS