CVE-2021-20040Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated file write via traversed upload path

Published Dec 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Relative path traversal in affected SonicWall SMA 100 Series firmware allows remote attackers to write files outside the upload directory. The unauthenticated RAC_POST_FILE_LIST method builds a path from the swcctn query value without canonicalization or traversal checks, then passes it to Python file operations. Files receive timestamp-suffixed names and nobody-user permissions, allowing controlled content in writable web or configuration directories.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability25.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Relative path traversal in affected SonicWall SMA 100 Series firmware allows remote attackers to write files outside the upload directory. The unauthenticated RAC_POST_FILE_LIST method builds a path from the swcctn query value without canonicalization or traversal checks, then passes it to Python file operations. Files receive timestamp-suffixed names and nobody-user permissions, allowing controlled content in writable web or configuration directories.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20040
Published
Dec 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
SonicWall
Product
Secure Mobile Access (SMA) 100 Series
Classifications
CWE-22, CWE-23, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=10.2.0.8-37sv and earlier
  2. Affected versionversion=10.2.1.1-19sv and earlier
  3. Affected versionversion=10.2.1.2-24sv and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SonicWall · Secure Mobile Access (SMA) 100 Seriesversion=10.2.0.8-37sv and earlier; version=10.2.1.1-19sv and earlier; version=10.2.1.2-24sv and earlier

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CWE-23Relative Path Traversal
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo