Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Unauthorized File Access Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the export policies functionality of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive files on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials. This vulnerability is due to insufficient access control to file system resources. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted values in specific UI fields. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access sensitive files from the underlying file system of an affected device, including key materials that could be used to elevate privileges to root on the affected APIC and on managed switches. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. This advisory is available at the following link: This advisory is part of a group of advisories. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Advance Notification for Publication of October 7, 2026, Security Advisories . For further documentation of improvements and fixes in Cisco APIC, see Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Security Hardening Release: October 2026 .

A vulnerability in the export policies functionality of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive files on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials.

This vulnerability is due to insufficient access control to file system resources. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted values in specific UI fields. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access sensitive files from the underlying file system of an affected device, including key materials that could be used to elevate privileges to root on the affected APIC and on managed switches.

Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

This advisory is available at the following link:

This advisory is part of a group of advisories. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Advance Notification for Publication of October 7, 2026, Security Advisories . For further documentation of improvements and fixes in Cisco APIC, see Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Security Hardening Release: October 2026 .

Vulnerable Products At the time of publication, this vulnerability affected Cisco APIC, regardless of device configuration. For information which Cisco software releases were vulnerable at the time of publication, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory. See the Details section in the bug ID at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information. Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

At the time of publication, this vulnerability affected Cisco APIC, regardless of device configuration.

For information which Cisco software releases were vulnerable at the time of publication, see the Fixed Software section of this advisory. See the Details section in the bug ID at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information.

Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable

Only products listed in the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory are known to be affected by this vulnerability.

There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Cisco considers any workarounds and mitigations (if applicable) to be temporary solutions until an upgrade to a fixed software release is available. To remediate this vulnerability and avoid future exposure as described in this advisory, Cisco strongly recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software indicated in this advisory. Fixed Releases At the time of publication, the release information in the following table was accurate. See the Details section in the bug ID at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information. The left column lists Cisco software releases, and the right column indicates whether a release was affected by the vulnerability that is described in this advisory and which release included the fix for this vulnerability. Cisco APIC Release First Fixed Release 5.3 and earlier Migrate to a fixed release. 6.0 6.0(9h) 6.1 6.1(3f) 6.2 Not vulnerable. The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) validates only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory.

Cisco considers any workarounds and mitigations (if applicable) to be temporary solutions until an upgrade to a fixed software release is available. To remediate this vulnerability and avoid future exposure as described in this advisory, Cisco strongly recommends that customers upgrade to the fixed software indicated in this advisory.

At the time of publication, the release information in the following table was accurate. See the Details section in the bug ID at the top of this advisory for the most complete and current information.

The left column lists Cisco software releases, and the right column indicates whether a release was affected by the vulnerability that is described in this advisory and which release included the fix for this vulnerability.

The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) validates only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory.

Exploitation and Public Announcements

The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory.

Cisco would like to thank Wilhelm Putz of System Integration Network Solutions for CANCOM Austria AG for reporting this vulnerability.

Cisco would like to thank Wilhelm Putz of System Integration Network Solutions for CANCOM Austria AG for reporting this vulnerability.

Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy

To learn Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy . This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco. For additional information on Cisco's vulnerability management, disclosure cadence, and software patching strategy, see Cisco's Transition to a Risk-Based Vulnerability Disclosure Model .

To learn Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy . This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.

For additional information on Cisco's vulnerability management, disclosure cadence, and software patching strategy, see Cisco's Transition to a Risk-Based Vulnerability Disclosure Model .

Related to This Advisory

Version Description Section Status Date 1.0 Initial public release. - Final 2026-OCT-07 Show Less

SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool. Please note that customers may download only software that was procured from Cisco directly or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner and for which the license is still valid. Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) . Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade. When considering software upgrades , customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for the relevant Cisco products to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution. In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers. LEGAL DISCLAIMER DETAILS CISCO DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, CISCO DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE DOCUMENT OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE DOCUMENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME. Copies or summaries of the information contained in this Security Advisory may lack important information or contain factual errors. Customers are advised to visit the Cisco Security Advisories page for the most recent version of this Security Advisory. The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) assesses only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory. See the Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy for more information.

SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The Cisco Support and Downloads page on Cisco.com provides information licensing and downloads. This page can also display customer device support coverage for customers who use the My Devices tool. Please note that customers may download only software that was procured from Cisco directly or through a Cisco authorized reseller or partner and for which the license is still valid.

Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) . Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.

When considering software upgrades , customers are advised to regularly consult the advisories for the relevant Cisco products to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution. In all cases, customers should ensure that the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and confirm that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, customers are advised to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or their contracted maintenance providers.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER DETAILS

CISCO DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, CISCO DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE DOCUMENT OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE DOCUMENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME.

Copies or summaries of the information contained in this Security Advisory may lack important information or contain factual errors. Customers are advised to visit the Cisco Security Advisories page for the most recent version of this Security Advisory. The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) assesses only the affected and fixed release information that is documented in this advisory. See the Cisco Security Vulnerability Policy for more information.

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