---
id: CVE-2021-1371
title: Cisco SD-WAN Software Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
summary: >-
  A vulnerability in the role-based access control of Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN
  Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with read-only
  privileges to obtain administrative privileges by using the console port when
  the device is in the…
severity: medium
cvss: 6.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
vendor: Cisco
product: Cisco IOS XE Software
affected:
  - 1000_series_integrated_services_routers
  - asr_1000_series_aggregation_services_routers
  - 4000_series_integrated_services_routers
  - integrated_services_virtual_router
  - cloud_services_router_1000v_series
  - catalyst_ir1100_rugged_series_routers
  - ios_xe_software 16.9.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.10.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.9.2
  - ios_xe_software 17.1.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.9.3
  - ios_xe_software 17.2.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.1a
  - ios_xe_software 17.3.1
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.1b
  - ios_xe_software 16.10.2
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.2
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.1s
  - ios_xe_software 16.9.4
  - ios_xe_software 16.11.1c
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.1s
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.1a
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.1c
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.2
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.2a
  - ios_xe_software 17.1.1a
  - ios_xe_software 16.10.3
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.3
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.2s
  - ios_xe_software 17.1.1s
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.1t
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.2t
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.4
  - ios_xe_software 17.2.1r
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.3s
  - ios_xe_software 16.12.3a
  - ios_xe_software 17.1.2
  - ios_xe_software 17.2.1a
published: '2021-03-24'
updated: '2021-03-24'
sourceUpdated: '2021-03-24T16:00:00+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: >-
  https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-esc-rSNVvTf9
references:
  - url: >-
      https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-esc-rSNVvTf9
  - url: 'https://software.cisco.com'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vendor-advisory
  - cisco
epss: 0.00254
epssPercentile: 0.15055
ingestedAt: '2026-09-25T07:41:37.796Z'
---

## Overview

A vulnerability in the role-based access control of Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with read-only privileges to obtain administrative privileges by using the console port when the device is in the default SD-WAN configuration.

This vulnerability occurs because the default configuration is applied for console authentication and authorization. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting to the console port and authenticating as a read-only user. A successful exploit could allow a user with read-only permissions to access administrative privileges.

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

## Vendor advisories

- **cisco-sa-sdwan-esc-rSNVvTf9** · Cisco · affected: Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Routers, Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers, Cisco Integrated Services Virtual Router, Cisco Cloud Services Router 1000V Series, Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers, … · updated 2021-03-24 · [advisory](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sdwan-esc-rSNVvTf9)

**Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software Console Privilege Escalation Vulnerability**. Released 2021-03-24.

Affected:

- Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Routers
- Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers
- Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers
- Cisco Integrated Services Virtual Router
- Cisco Cloud Services Router 1000V Series
- Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.9.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.10.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.9.2
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.1.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.9.3
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.2.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.1a
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.3.1
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.1b
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.10.2
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.2
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.1s
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.9.4
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.11.1c
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1s
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1a
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1c
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.2
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.2a
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.1.1a
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.10.3
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.3
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.2s
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.1.1s
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1t
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.2t
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.4
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.2.1r
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.3s
- Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.3a
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.1.2
- Cisco IOS XE Software 17.2.1a

## Remediation

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. https://software.cisco.com