CVE-2021-27213Network attack vector

Code execution via unsafe YAML configuration loading

Published Feb 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Unsafe YAML deserialization in pystemon before 2021-02-13 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted configuration file. The _load_yamlconfig method in config.py passes the primary YAML file and each included file to yaml.load with FullLoader or no loader instead of a safe loader. Execution requires control of a configuration file or an included file that the process loads, and payload code runs with the process's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe YAML deserialization in pystemon before 2021-02-13 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted configuration file. The _load_yamlconfig method in config.py passes the primary YAML file and each included file to yaml.load with FullLoader or no loader instead of a safe loader. Execution requires control of a configuration file or an included file that the process loads, and payload code runs with the process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27213
Published
Feb 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-502
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

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

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data

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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