---
id: CVE-2026-20321
title: >-
  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
summary: >-
  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,
  th…
severity: medium
cvss: 6.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-544
vendor: Cisco
product: Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)
affected:
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(1d)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2a)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2b)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2c)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2d)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2e)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 5.3(2f)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 6.1(5e)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 6.2(1f)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 6.2(1g)
  - application_policy_infrastructure_controller_apic 6.2(2e)
published: '2026-10-07'
updated: '2026-10-07'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-07T17:16:55.013'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20321'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-apic-cmdinj-L6VR4E7
    label: psirt@cisco.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-10-07T16:38:22.257Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.