CVE-2021-20020Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root code execution via passwordless PostgreSQL trust

Published Apr 10, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Command execution in SonicWall Global Management System 9.3 allows remote attackers to execute code as root through TCP port 5029. The bundled PostgreSQL service accepts passwordless trust authentication from any IPv4 address, allowing a database superuser to upload and load a shared library. No credentials are required; code first runs as postgres, then the world-writable /etc directory enables ld.so.preload injection into a root process.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability3.73%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command execution in SonicWall Global Management System 9.3 allows remote attackers to execute code as root through TCP port 5029. The bundled PostgreSQL service accepts passwordless trust authentication from any IPv4 address, allowing a database superuser to upload and load a shared library. No credentials are required; code first runs as postgres, then the world-writable /etc directory enables ld.so.preload injection into a root process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20020
Published
Apr 10, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
SonicWall
Product
Global Management System (GMS)
Classifications
CWE-287, T1574.006, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=9.3 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SonicWall · Global Management System (GMS)version=9.3 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1574.006Dynamic Linker Hijacking
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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