Cisco IOS up to 12.2XQ HTTP Server improper authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Cisco IOS up to 12.2XQ. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component HTTP Server. The manipulation results in improper authentication. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2001-0537. Additionally, an exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Cisco IOS up to 12.2XQ (Router Operating System). Affected is an unknown part of the component HTTP Server. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

HTTP server for Cisco IOS 11.3 to 12.2 allows attackers to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands, when local authorization is being used, by specifying a high access level in the URL.

The bug was discovered 06/27/2001. The weakness was released 06/27/2001 with Cisco as confirmed advisory (CERT.org). The advisory is shared for download at cert.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2001-0537. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/05/2025).

After 5 days, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is shared for download at securityfocus.com. It is declared as highly functional. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 48956 (IOS HTTP Authorization Vulnerability - Cisco Systems), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CISCO and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 43005 (Cisco IOS HTTP Configuration Arbitrary Administrative Access Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 1250. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 1277.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (6749), Exploit-DB (20975), Tenable (48956), SecurityFocus (BID 2936†) and OSVDB (578†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.4

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 9.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authentication
CWE: CWE-287
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 48956
Nessus Name: IOS HTTP Authorization Vulnerability - Cisco Systems
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/cisco_ios_http_level
Saint Name: Cisco IOS HTTP access level authentication bypass

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

MetaSploit ID: cisco_ios_auth_bypass.rb
MetaSploit Name: Cisco IOS HTTP Unauthorized Administrative Access
MetaSploit File: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍
Snort ID: 1250
Snort Message: OS-OTHER Cisco IOS HTTP configuration attempt
Snort Class: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/27/2001 🔍
06/27/2001 +0 days 🔍
06/27/2001 +0 days 🔍
06/27/2001 +0 days 🔍
07/02/2001 +5 days 🔍
07/21/2001 +19 days 🔍
07/21/2001 +0 days 🔍
09/12/2002 +418 days 🔍
02/05/2003 +145 days 🔍
09/01/2010 +2765 days 🔍
07/07/2014 +1405 days 🔍
10/05/2025 +4108 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cert.org
Organization: Cisco
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2001-0537 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2001-0537
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-17076

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 6749 - Cisco IOS HTTP server could allow unauthorized administrative access
SecurityFocus: 2936 - Cisco IOS HTTP Configuration Arbitrary Administrative Access Vulnerability
OSVDB: 578 - Cisco IOS HTTP Unauthorized Administrative Access
Vulnerability Center: 823 - [cisco-sa-20010627-ios-http-level] Cisco IOS HTTP Configuration Arbitrary Administrative Access, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 07/07/2014 15:48
Updated: 10/05/2025 23:57
Changes: 07/07/2014 15:48 (96), 05/09/2019 00:19 (1), 09/04/2024 20:49 (17), 10/05/2025 23:57 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you know our Splunk app?

Download it now for free!