CVE-2019-1649

What it is

A vulnerability in the logic that handles access control to one of the hardware components in Cisco's proprietary Secure Boot implementation could allow an authenticated, local attacker to write a modified firmware image to the component. This vulnerability affects multiple Cisco products that support hardware-based Secure Boot functionality. The vulnerability is due to an improper check on the area of code that manages on-premise updates to a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) part of the Secure Boot hardware implementation. An attacker with elevated privileges and access to the underlying operating system that is running on the affected device could exploit this vulnerability by writing a modified firmware image to the FPGA. A successful exploit could either cause the device to become unusable (and require a hardware replacement) or allow tampering with the Secure Boot verification process, which under some circumstances may allow the attacker to install and boot a malicious software image. An attacker will need to fulfill all the following conditions to attempt to exploit this vulnerability: Have privileged administrative access to the device. Be able to access the underlying operating system running on the device; this can be achieved either by using a supported, documented mechanism or by exploiting another vulnerability that would provide an attacker with such access. Develop or have access to a platform-specific exploit. An attacker attempting to exploit this vulnerability across multiple affected platforms would need to research each one of those platforms and then develop a platform-specific exploit. Although the research process could be reused across different platforms, an exploit developed for a given hardware platform is unlikely to work on a different hardware platform.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with an admin-level account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.6% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2019-05-13 19:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 02:28 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.6% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 6.7 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2019-05-13 19:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 02:28 UTC

Exploit probability

0.6% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-284 · Improper access control

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Cisco Asa 5500 Firmware < 1.1.15
• Cisco Firepower 2100 Firmware < 2.6.1.134
• Cisco Firepower 4000 Firmware < 1.0.18
• Cisco Firepower 9000 Firmware < 1.0.18
• Cisco Ons 15454 Mstp Firmware < 11.1
• Cisco Analog Voice Network Interface Modules Firmware
• Cisco Integrated Services Router t1\/e1 Voice And Wan Network Interface Modules Firmware
• Cisco Supervisor a\+ Firmware

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 6.7

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

High

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2019-1649.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2019-1649. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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