CVE-2021-41773
Path traversal and file disclosure vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49
Exploited in the wild. In CISA KEV since 2021‑11‑03. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
What it is
From the CVE record
A flaw was found in a change made to path normalization in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.49. An attacker could use a path traversal attack to map URLs to files outside the directories configured by Alias-like directives. If files outside of these directories are not protected by the usual default configuration "require all denied", these requests can succeed. If CGI scripts are also enabled for these aliased pathes, this could allow for remote code execution. This issue is known to be exploited in the wild. This issue only affects Apache 2.4.49 and not earlier versions. The fix in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.50 was found to be incomplete, see CVE-2021-42013.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Listed as exploited in the wild since 2021-11-03.
US federal agencies must remediate by 2021-11-17.
Known use in ransomware campaigns.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Public exploits
6 sources with a proof of concept or module.
Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in- EPSS
100% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 99th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
The patch came 17 days before any public exploit.
- OpenVAS check added
- Public exploit / PoCsource: packetstormnuclei check added
- Patch availablerecord updated
- Added to CISA KEVransomware campaign
- Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped
Affected products
And 8 more affected products. See all after sign-in
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 9.8 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
Sources
References in the record
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164418/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.49-Path-Traversal-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164418/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.49-Path-Traversal.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164629/Apache-2.4.49-2.4.50-Traversal-Remote-Code-Execution.html
And 43 more references. See all after sign-in
Watch the software you run.
My Stack ranks new CVEs for your products by real-world exploitation, so the next exploited one reaches you without reading every advisory.
We'll flag the next CVE, public exploit or patch for Http Server, not every advisory. This one: actively exploited.
A free account adds
- The full version matrix and every affected product
- Exploit links, proofs of concept and Metasploit modules
- Email alerts for the products you watch
- The same data over REST API, MCP and CLI