CVE-2021-21503

Privilege escalation via unsanitized command input

Published Mar 8, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

OS command injection in Dell PowerScale OneFS 8.1.2, 8.2.2, and 9.1.0 allows local users to escalate privileges. Dell identifies improper sanitization of input passed to a command but has not disclosed the command, parameter, or deficient sanitization operation. Exploitation requires Compadmin access on a cluster configured for Compliance mode; successful injection gains higher privileges within the storage appliance.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Dell PowerScale OneFS 8.1.2, 8.2.2, and 9.1.0 allows local users to escalate privileges. Dell identifies improper sanitization of input passed to a command but has not disclosed the command, parameter, or deficient sanitization operation. Exploitation requires Compadmin access on a cluster configured for Compliance mode; successful injection gains higher privileges within the storage appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21503
Published
Mar 8, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Dell Technologies
Product
PowerScale OneFS
Classifications
CWE-78, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 8, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=unspecified <8.1.2, 8.2.2,9.1.0.x,EMPIRE (9.2.0), GOTHAM

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell Technologies · PowerScale OneFSversion=unspecified <8.1.2, 8.2.2,9.1.0.x,EMPIRE (9.2.0), GOTHAM

Published CVSS scores

7.8DellCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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