CVE-2021-23352Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Command execution via unsanitized Graphviz path

Published Mar 9, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Command injection in Madge before 4.0.1 allows attackers to execute operating-system commands through a crafted Graphviz path. The checkGraphvizInstalled function joins graphVizPath with gvpr -V and passes the combined string to child_process.exec, allowing shell metacharacters in the option to become commands. Exploitation requires control of graphVizPath in an application that invokes image(), svg(), or dot(), and commands run with that application's privileges.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability2.06%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Madge before 4.0.1 allows attackers to execute operating-system commands through a crafted Graphviz path. The checkGraphvizInstalled function joins graphVizPath with gvpr -V and passes the combined string to child_process.exec, allowing shell metacharacters in the option to become commands. Exploitation requires control of graphVizPath in an application that invokes image(), svg(), or dot(), and commands run with that application's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23352
Published
Mar 9, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Patrik Henningsson
Product
Madge
Classifications
CWE-89, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 9, 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 <4.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Patrik Henningsson · Madgeversion=unspecified <4.0.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.6SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

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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