# What is CVE-2019-15984?

> CVE-2019-15984 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.2) in Data Center Network Manager from Cisco, published on 6 January 2020. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 47%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.edgeprotect.io/what-is/cve-2019-15984

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
- **EdgeProtect risk score:** 49 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.2 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 47% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 6 January 2020
- **Record last updated:** 2 February 2023
- **Main product:** Data Center Network Manager from Cisco
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2019-15984? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

Multiple vulnerabilities in the REST and SOAP API endpoints of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands on an affected device. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker would need administrative privileges on the DCNM application. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory. Note: The severity of these vulnerabilities is aggravated by the vulnerabilities described in the Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities advisory, published simultaneously with this one.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: An administrator account
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2019-15984 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 47%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 47%, 47%, 47%, 47%, 47%, 47%, 47%.

### Timeline

- 6 January 2020: Published
- 2 February 2023: Record last updated
- 19 November 2025: Exploit likelihood jumped
- 22 November 2025: Exploit likelihood fell

### How EdgeProtect ranks it

CVE-2019-15984 scores **49 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: key context
- Real threat activity around it: key context

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2019-15984?

The published record lists 1 product. Versions are as published: "before 11.3(1)" means every version up to, but not including, 11.3(1).

- [Data Center Network Manager](https://www.edgeprotect.io/product/cisco/data_center_network_manager) by [Cisco](https://www.edgeprotect.io/vendors/cisco) (Application): before 11.3(1)

## How do I fix CVE-2019-15984?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? EdgeProtect can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [tools.cisco.com](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20200102-dcnm-sql-inject) (Vendor advisory)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156239/Cisco-Data-Center-Network-Manager-11.2.1-SQL-Injection.html) (Exploit, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2019-15984?

CVE-2019-15984 is a high-severity flaw in Data Center Network Manager from Cisco, published on 6 January 2020. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2019-15984?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2019-15984 is 49 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.

### Is CVE-2019-15984 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 47%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2019-15984 affect?

For Data Center Network Manager from Cisco: before 11.3(1).

### How do I fix CVE-2019-15984?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2019-15984 affect you?

EdgeProtect keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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