CVE-2021-21526

Root command execution via undisclosed SmartLock flaw

Published Apr 20, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Privilege escalation in Dell PowerScale OneFS 8.1.0 through 9.1.0 allows local compadmin users to execute arbitrary commands as root. Dell identifies SmartLock compliance mode as the affected component but has not disclosed the code locus or the operation that mishandles attacker-controlled input. Exploitation requires a high-privilege compadmin account and compliance mode; root access permits system changes or service interruption, with no direct disclosure impact reported.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Dell PowerScale OneFS 8.1.0 through 9.1.0 allows local compadmin users to execute arbitrary commands as root. Dell identifies SmartLock compliance mode as the affected component but has not disclosed the code locus or the operation that mishandles attacker-controlled input. Exploitation requires a high-privilege compadmin account and compliance mode; root access permits system changes or service interruption, with no direct disclosure impact reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21526
Published
Apr 20, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Dell Technologies
Product
PowerScale OneFS
Classifications
CWE-78, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 20, 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 <8.1.0-9.1.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Dell Technologies · PowerScale OneFSversion=unspecified <8.1.0-9.1.0

Published CVSS scores

6.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.0Dell TechnologiesCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
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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