CVE-2021-3035Network attack vector

Code execution via malicious Terraform file deserialization

Published Apr 20, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Unsafe deserialization in Palo Alto Networks Checkov before 2.0.26 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious Terraform file. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the deserializer, code path, or specific unsafe operation beyond identifying Terraform-file processing. Reachability requires high privileges and a scan of attacker-controlled Terraform; resulting code inherits the Checkov process's privileges.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability1.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe deserialization in Palo Alto Networks Checkov before 2.0.26 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious Terraform file. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the deserializer, code path, or specific unsafe operation beyond identifying Terraform-file processing. Reachability requires high privileges and a scan of attacker-controlled Terraform; resulting code inherits the Checkov process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3035
Published
Apr 20, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
Checkov
Classifications
CWE-502, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 20, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=2.0 <2.0.26 changes=[{"at":"2.0.26","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · Checkovversion=2.0 <2.0.26 changes=[{"at":"2.0.26","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.7Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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