CVE-2021-21979Network attack vector

Arbitrary method invocation via fixed APP_KEY

Published Mar 3, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Hard-coded credentials in Bitnami Laravel Container before the applicable Laravel 6–8 fixed releases allow remote attackers to forge cookies. The image build writes a fixed APP_KEY to /tmp/app/.env; affected releases are before 6.20.0-debian-10-r107 for Laravel 6, 7.30.1-debian-10-r108 for Laravel 7, or 8.5.11-debian-10-r0 for Laravel 8. Crafted encrypted cookies then reach PHP object unserialization and can invoke application class methods. Exploitation requires network access to an application using the image, with consequences dependent on available gadget methods and potentially including arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in Bitnami Laravel Container before the applicable Laravel 6–8 fixed releases allow remote attackers to forge cookies. The image build writes a fixed APP_KEY to /tmp/app/.env; affected releases are before 6.20.0-debian-10-r107 for Laravel 6, 7.30.1-debian-10-r108 for Laravel 7, or 8.5.11-debian-10-r0 for Laravel 8. Crafted encrypted cookies then reach PHP object unserialization and can invoke application class methods. Exploitation requires network access to an application using the image, with consequences dependent on available gadget methods and potentially including arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21979
Published
Mar 3, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Bitnami
Product
Laravel Container
Classifications
CWE-798, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 3, 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=All Laravel container versions prior to: 6.20.0-debian-10-r107 for Laravel 6, 7.30.1-debian-10-r108 for Laravel 7 and 8.5.11-debian-10-r0 for Laravel 8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Bitnami · Laravel Containerversion=All Laravel container versions prior to: 6.20.0-debian-10-r107 for Laravel 6, 7.30.1-debian-10-r108 for Laravel 7 and 8.5.11-debian-10-r0 for Laravel 8

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.3NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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 exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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