CVE-2016-6433: Cisco Firepower Management Center console command injection

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 18 September 2026. Confidence: high.

high priorityRemote authenticated command execution on a central security management appliance with public exploit code and very high EPSS, though it requires valid credentials.

What it is

The Threat Management Console in Cisco Firepower Management Center 5.2.0 through 6.0.1 fails to properly validate crafted web-application parameters, allowing command injection. An attacker who already holds a valid account can turn that access into arbitrary command execution on the management appliance, which is a high-value control point for the network.

Impact

An authenticated attacker gains arbitrary command execution on the Firepower Management Center, giving control over the appliance that manages firewall policy and threat data. This can lead to full compromise of the management plane and the devices it governs.

Attack surface

Reached over the network through the Threat Management Console web interface by submitting crafted parameters. Authentication is required (PR:L) and no user interaction is needed (UI:N).

Exploitation

Not listed in CISA KEV, but EPSS is very high (0.7575, ~99.5th percentile) and public exploit code exists in Exploit-DB (40463, 41041) and Packet Storm, indicating mature, widely available exploitation.

What to do

• Upgrade Firepower Management Center to a fixed release per Cisco advisory cisco-sa-20161005-ftmc; versions 5.2.0 through 6.0.1 are affected.
• Restrict management console access to trusted administrative networks and require strong authentication for all console accounts.
• Audit and minimize accounts with console access; remove unused or shared credentials.
• Monitor the appliance for unexpected command execution or outbound connections from the management interface.

Detection

• Review web server and console logs for crafted parameters or anomalous requests to Threat Management Console endpoints.
• Alert on unexpected child processes or shell activity spawned by the web application on the FMC appliance.
• Monitor for outbound connections from the management appliance to unfamiliar hosts.
• Correlate administrative account activity with command execution events on the appliance.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.