CVE-2021-26987Network attack vector

Unauthenticated remote code execution

Published Mar 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Code injection in NetApp Element management products allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code over the management network. NetApp identifies an embedded Spring Boot version before 1.3.2 but has not disclosed the flawed code locus or its unsafe operation. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation executes code in the affected service context.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.44%
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

Code injection in NetApp Element management products allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code over the management network. NetApp identifies an embedded Spring Boot version before 1.3.2 but has not disclosed the flawed code locus or its unsafe operation. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation executes code in the affected service context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26987
Published
Mar 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
NetApp
Product
Management Services for Element Software and NetApp HCI
Classifications
T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 15, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=versions prior to 2.17.56

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NetApp · Management Services for Element Software and NetApp HCIversion=versions prior to 2.17.56
NetApp · NetApp Element Plug-in for vCenter Serverversion=All versions
NetApp · NetApp SolidFire & HCI Management Nodeversion=versions through 12.2

Published CVSS scores

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

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

T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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