CVE-2021-21307Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via exposed Admin templates

Published Feb 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Missing authorization in Lucee Admin allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through directly accessible internal CFM templates. Application.cfc failed to reject unauthenticated direct requests, allowing pre-auth logic in imgProcess.cfm and admin.search.index.cfm to write and transform attacker-controlled files. Exploitation requires network access to the Administrator and can place executable CFML in the webroot with the Lucee service account's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability89.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Lucee Admin allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through directly accessible internal CFM templates. Application.cfc failed to reject unauthenticated direct requests, allowing pre-auth logic in imgProcess.cfm and admin.search.index.cfm to write and transform attacker-controlled files. Exploitation requires network access to the Administrator and can place executable CFML in the webroot with the Lucee service account's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21307
Published
Feb 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Lucee Association Switzerland
Product
Lucee
Classifications
CWE-862, T1505.003, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 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=>= 5.3.5.0, < 5.3.5.96
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 5.3.6.0, < 5.3.6.68
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 5.3.7.0, < 5.3.7.47

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Lucee Association Switzerland · Luceeversion=>= 5.3.5.0, < 5.3.5.96; version=>= 5.3.6.0, < 5.3.6.68; version=>= 5.3.7.0, < 5.3.7.47

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.6GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1505.003Web Shell
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

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