CVE-2021-20022Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

System-level code execution via branding ZIP traversal

Published Apr 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Arbitrary file upload in SonicWall Email Security 10.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to write files via branding ZIPs. The branding package extractor expands ZIP entries without validating traversal sequences, allowing paths to escape the data branding directory into Tomcat web directories. Administrative access to the web interface is required; a JSP placed under Tomcat webapps executes commands with the web server's SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability16.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file upload in SonicWall Email Security 10.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to write files via branding ZIPs. The branding package extractor expands ZIP entries without validating traversal sequences, allowing paths to escape the data branding directory into Tomcat web directories. Administrative access to the web interface is required; a JSP placed under Tomcat webapps executes commands with the web server's SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20022
Published
Apr 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
SonicWall
Product
Email Security
Classifications
CWE-434, T1190, T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Record 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=10.0.9 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

SonicWall · Email Securityversion=10.0.9 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.2CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1505.003Web Shell

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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