CVE-2021-23019

Administrator password disclosure via support-package systemd.txt inclusion

Published Jun 1, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Credential exposure in F5 NGINX Controller 2.0.0 through 2.9.0 and 3.x before 3.15.0 allows local users to read the Administrator password. The support-package process includes systemd.txt containing the Administrator password in its generated diagnostic archive. Exploitation requires local access to that archive and discloses a credential capable of authenticating to the Controller management plane.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Credential exposure in F5 NGINX Controller 2.0.0 through 2.9.0 and 3.x before 3.15.0 allows local users to read the Administrator password. The support-package process includes systemd.txt containing the Administrator password in its generated diagnostic archive. Exploitation requires local access to that archive and discloses a credential capable of authenticating to the Controller management plane.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23019
Published
Jun 1, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
F5 Networks
Product
NGINX Controller
Classifications
CWE-201, CWE-522, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 1, 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=“2.0.0 thru 2.9.0” and “3.x before 3.15.0”

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

F5 Networks · NGINX Controllerversion=“2.0.0 thru 2.9.0” and “3.x before 3.15.0”

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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-201Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data
CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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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