CVE-2021-25282Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file write via unchecked pillar path

Published Feb 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in pillar_roots.write in SaltStack Salt before 3002.5 allows remote attackers to write arbitrary files via a crafted path. The method joins an untrusted path to the configured pillar root and writes without verifying that the resolved destination remains beneath that root. Reachability requires wheel-module access; unauthenticated Salt API wheel_async access can supply traversal segments, and a root-run master can turn a crafted cron-file write into command execution.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability92.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in pillar_roots.write in SaltStack Salt before 3002.5 allows remote attackers to write arbitrary files via a crafted path. The method joins an untrusted path to the configured pillar root and writes without verifying that the resolved destination remains beneath that root. Reachability requires wheel-module access; unauthenticated Salt API wheel_async access can supply traversal segments, and a root-run master can turn a crafted cron-file write into command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25282
Published
Feb 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-22, T1053.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.4NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1053.003Scheduled Task/Job: Cron

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo