CVE-2021-21298Network attack vector

Arbitrary file disclosure via unchecked project paths

Published Feb 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in the Projects API in Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server files. Project.js joins attacker-controlled project and file names to filesystem paths without verifying that the resolved paths remain beneath the project directory. Exposure requires the disabled-by-default Projects feature and projects.read permission; successful requests disclose files readable by the service account.

CVSS severity3.5
Low
EPSS probability1.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in the Projects API in Node-RED 1.2.7 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server files. Project.js joins attacker-controlled project and file names to filesystem paths without verifying that the resolved paths remain beneath the project directory. Exposure requires the disabled-by-default Projects feature and projects.read permission; successful requests disclose files readable by the service account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21298
Published
Feb 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Node-RED
Product
Node-RED
Classifications
CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 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=< 1.2.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Node-RED · Node-REDversion=< 1.2.8

Published CVSS scores

3.5GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

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.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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