CVE-2021-21696Network attack vector

Controller code execution via writable shared libraries

Published Nov 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Access control failure in Jenkins 2.318 and earlier and LTS 2.303.2 and earlier allows attackers to execute code on the controller. FilePath APIs fail to block agent read and write access to build-directory libs/ content, letting a modified trusted shared library run unsandboxed in the controller process. Exploitation requires control of an agent process and can replace library code that a Pipeline later loads.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Access control failure in Jenkins 2.318 and earlier and LTS 2.303.2 and earlier allows attackers to execute code on the controller. FilePath APIs fail to block agent read and write access to build-directory libs/ content, letting a modified trusted shared library run unsandboxed in the controller process. Exploitation requires control of an agent process and can replace library code that a Pipeline later loads.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21696
Published
Nov 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Jenkins Project
Product
Jenkins
Classifications
T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 4, 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=unspecified <=2.318
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=LTS 2.303.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Jenkins Project · Jenkinsversion=unspecified <=2.318; version=unspecified <=LTS 2.303.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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