CVE-2021-22028Network attack vector

Host file access via gpfdist path traversal

Published Nov 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in Greenplum Database gpfdist before 5.28.6 and 6.14.0 allows remote attackers to read or write host files. The gpfdist HTTP handler fails to confine requested paths to the directory selected by its -d option, allowing traversal outside that root. Exposure requires a reachable gpfdist listener; successful requests disclose files or modify data writable by the service account.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability2.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Greenplum Database gpfdist before 5.28.6 and 6.14.0 allows remote attackers to read or write host files. The gpfdist HTTP handler fails to confine requested paths to the directory selected by its -d option, allowing traversal outside that root. Exposure requires a reachable gpfdist listener; successful requests disclose files or modify data writable by the service account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22028
Published
Nov 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Greenplum
Product
Greenplum Database
Classifications
CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 19, 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=gpfdist (Greenplum) versions 6.x.0 prior to 6.14.0 and 5.28.x prior to 5.28.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Greenplum · Greenplum Databaseversion=gpfdist (Greenplum) versions 6.x.0 prior to 6.14.0 and 5.28.x prior to 5.28.6

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.4NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

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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