CVE-2021-26758Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root access via unsafe External App configuration

Published Apr 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Privilege escalation in OpenLiteSpeed 1.7.8 allows remote authenticated users to gain root terminal access through the administration panel. The confMgr.php External App configuration accepts attacker-controlled command, user, and group values without adequate authorization or sanitization, then launches the configured process with elevated group privileges. Exploitation requires valid administration-panel credentials and access to the panel; successful exploitation permits command execution as root, enabling broad system compromise.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in OpenLiteSpeed 1.7.8 allows remote authenticated users to gain root terminal access through the administration panel. The confMgr.php External App configuration accepts attacker-controlled command, user, and group values without adequate authorization or sanitization, then launches the configured process with elevated group privileges. Exploitation requires valid administration-panel credentials and access to the panel; successful exploitation permits command execution as root, enabling broad system compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26758
Published
Apr 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 7, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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