CVE-2021-23278

Authenticated file deletion via unvalidated action input

Published Apr 13, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Arbitrary file deletion in Eaton Intelligent Power Manager before 1.69 allows remote authenticated users to delete host files via crafted packets. The removeBackground action in server/maps_srv.js and removeFirmware action in server/node_upgrade_srv.js accept unvalidated file-selection input and pass it to deletion logic. Access to an authenticated IPM session from an adjacent network is required; deletion can corrupt application or system data and interrupt service.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file deletion in Eaton Intelligent Power Manager before 1.69 allows remote authenticated users to delete host files via crafted packets. The removeBackground action in server/maps_srv.js and removeFirmware action in server/node_upgrade_srv.js accept unvalidated file-selection input and pass it to deletion logic. Access to an authenticated IPM session from an adjacent network is required; deletion can corrupt application or system data and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23278
Published
Apr 13, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Eaton
Product
Intelligent Power Manager
Classifications
CWE-20, T1485
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <1.69

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Eaton · Intelligent Power Managerversion=unspecified <1.69

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:P
8.7EatonCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H
9.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1485Data Destruction

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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