CVE-2021-26701Network attack vector

Remote code execution via undisclosed text encoding flaw

Published Feb 25, 2021 · Updated May 28, 2026

Remote code execution in Microsoft's System.Text.Encodings.Web package allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors. Microsoft attributes the flaw to text encoding but has not disclosed the affected API or the incorrect operation performed on untrusted input. Network access without authentication is sufficient, while successful exploitation depends on unspecified conditions reflected by the vendor's high attack-complexity assessment.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability30.10%
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

Remote code execution in Microsoft's System.Text.Encodings.Web package allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors. Microsoft attributes the flaw to text encoding but has not disclosed the affected API or the incorrect operation performed on untrusted input. Network access without authentication is sufficient, while successful exploitation depends on unspecified conditions reflected by the vendor's high attack-complexity assessment.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26701
Published
Feb 25, 2021
Updated
May 28, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
.NET Core 2.1
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 25, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 28, 2026Record 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.1 <publication

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · .NET Core 2.1version=2.1 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7version=16.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · PowerShell 7.1version=7.1.0 <publication
Microsoft · .NET Core 3.1version=3.1 <publication
Microsoft · Visual Studio 2019 for Macversion=8.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4version=16.0 <publication
Microsoft · PowerShell 7.0version=7.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.8version=16.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2017version=15.9.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.9version=15.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · .NET 5.0version=5.0.0 <publication

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.1MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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

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