How severe is CVE-2015-0721?

CVE-2015-0721 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2015-0721 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (78th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-0721?

CVE-2015-0721 primarily affects Cisco Nx-os. In total, 178 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-0721?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2015-0721 published?

CVE-2015-0721 was published on 2016-10-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2015-0721

CVE-2015-0721 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Nx-os with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.0)
CVSS v2: 9.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (78th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-264
Affected product: Cisco Nx-os
Published: 2016-10-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Cisco NX-OS 4.0 through 7.3 on Multilayer Director and Nexus 1000V, 2000, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000, 5500, 5600, 6000, 7000, 7700, and 9000 devices allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended AAA restrictions and obtain privileged CLI access via crafted parameters in an SSH connection negotiation, aka Bug IDs CSCum35502, CSCuw78669, CSCuw79754, and CSCux88492.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-0721?: Cisco NX-OS 4.0 through 7.3 on Multilayer Director and Nexus 1000V, 2000, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000, 5500, 5600, 6000, 7000, 7700, and 9000 devices allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended AAA restrictions and obtain privileged CLI access via crafted parameters in an SSH connection negotiation, aka Bug IDs CSCum35502, CSCuw78669, CSCuw79754, and CSCux88492.
How severe is CVE-2015-0721?: CVE-2015-0721 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2015-0721 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (78th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2015-0721?: CVE-2015-0721 primarily affects Cisco Nx-os. In total, 178 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2015-0721?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2015-0721 published?: CVE-2015-0721 was published on 2016-10-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (178)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.1.\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.1.\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.1.\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.1.\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.2\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.2\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.2\(6\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.2\(8\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:4.2.\(2a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.0\(2a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.0\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.0\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(1a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.1\(6\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(3a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(5\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(7\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:5.2\(9\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.0\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.0\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.0\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.1\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.1\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.1\(3\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.1\(4\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.1\(4a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(2\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(2a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(6\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(6b\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(8\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(8a\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:nx-os:6.2\(8b\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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