CVE-2021-20278Network attack vector

Authentication bypass via missing token validation

Published May 28, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Authentication bypass in Kiali before 1.31.0 allows remote attackers to bypass login via the OpenID implicit flow. When RBAC is disabled, Kiali omits token validation that the cluster would otherwise perform, accepting forged credentials at the authentication boundary. Exploitation requires OpenID authentication configured for implicit flow and RBAC turned off; successful access exposes Kiali functions according to the resulting session permissions.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Kiali before 1.31.0 allows remote attackers to bypass login via the OpenID implicit flow. When RBAC is disabled, Kiali omits token validation that the cluster would otherwise perform, accepting forged credentials at the authentication boundary. Exploitation requires OpenID authentication configured for implicit flow and RBAC turned off; successful access exposes Kiali functions according to the resulting session permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20278
Published
May 28, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Kiali
Product
Kiali
Classifications
CWE-290, CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 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=kiali 1.31.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kiali · Kialiversion=kiali 1.31.0

Published CVSS scores

6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
5.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-290Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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