Intel

CVE-2026-20321

Application Policy Infrastructure Controller: Missing Standardized Error Handling Mechanism (CVE-2026-20321)

mediumEPSS 0.4%

Description

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.

Source: BSI CSAFBSI WID Portalcisco_csafNVD (NIST)cvelistv5

Affected products

The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

CiscoApplication Policy Infrastructure Controller
< 6.0(9h)fixed in 6.0(9h)< 6.1(3f)fixed in 6.1(3f)< 6.1(6g)fixed in 6.1(6g)< 6.2(3g)fixed in 6.2(3g)

Metrics

XIEM Effective CVSS
6.5
Source: nvd-v3
EPSS percentile
35.8 %
Elevated — this CVE ranks above at least 10% of all CVEs scored today.
KEV status
—
Show all metrics
Severity
medium
Priority score
72.73
Exploit maturity
no public PoC known
CVSS v3
6.5
EPSS score
0.4 %
Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
Published
2026-10-07 16:11 UTC
CWE
CWE-544

Weakness classes (CWE)

  • CWE-544Base

    Missing Standardized Error Handling Mechanism

    The product does not use a standardized method for handling errors throughout the code, which might introduce inconsistent error handling and resultant weaknesses.

    cwe.mitre.org →

References & sources

Reanalysis & status changes

Chronological NVD audit events for this CVE — reanalyses, CVSS updates, CPE diffs.

  1. CVE Modified2026-10-08 16:17 UTC· 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
    • SSVC: {"id":"CVE-2026-20321","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"none"},{"automatable":"no"},{"technicalI…
  2. New CVE Received2026-10-07 17:16 UTC· psirt@cisco.com
    • Description: 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.
    • CVSS V3.1: AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
    • CWE: CWE-544
    • Affected: New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/20xxx/CVE-2026-20321.json">CVE-2026-20321</a>

Linked advisories