CVE-2021-27021Network attack vector

Table deletion via unquoted query projections

Published Jul 20, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

SQL injection in PuppetDB before 6.17.0 and 7.0.0 through 7.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to delete PostgreSQL tables. The query engine accepted crafted projection names and function-AST elements, then inserted them into raw SQL without complete quoting or validation. A caller needs query API access, and table deletion succeeds when the PostgreSQL query role has insufficiently restricted permissions.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SQL injection in PuppetDB before 6.17.0 and 7.0.0 through 7.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to delete PostgreSQL tables. The query engine accepted crafted projection names and function-AST elements, then inserted them into raw SQL without complete quoting or validation. A caller needs query API access, and table deletion succeeds when the PostgreSQL query role has insufficiently restricted permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27021
Published
Jul 20, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Puppet
Product
PuppetDB
Classifications
CWE-89, CWE-1027, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 20, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=All prior versions before Puppet DB 6.17.0, 7.4.1, Puppet Platform 6.23, 7.8.0 and PE 2021.2, 2019.8.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Puppet · PuppetDBversion=All prior versions before Puppet DB 6.17.0, 7.4.1, Puppet Platform 6.23, 7.8.0 and PE 2021.2, 2019.8.7

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CWE-1027OWASP Top Ten 2017 Category A1 - Injection
T1485Data Destruction

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

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Your stack

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