IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2021-1498|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform Command Injection Vulnerability

Cisco HyperFlex HX Installer Virtual Machine contains an insufficient input validation vulnerability which could allow an attacker to execute commands on an affected device as the tomcat8 user.

Published May 6, 2021 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2021-11-17 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Cisco HyperFlex HX. Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco HyperFlex HX could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to perform command injection attacks against an affected device. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

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Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

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Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

Network Security Team
Firewall Administrators
IT Security
Running hyperflex hx data platform: v < 4.0\(2e\), 4.5 ≤ v < 4.5\(2a\)
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162976/Cisco-HyperFlex-HX-Data-Platform-Command-Execution.html

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1498
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-1498
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